Swimming

GB swimmers looking to make a splash in Israel

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:01:22 +0100

Maccabi GB has selected the Team GB Swimming squads who will be aiming for gold at this summer’s 19th Maccabiah Games.

There will be six Junior athletes and two Open athletes competing. The side’s talent pool is overflowing, featuring some of the best young Jewish swimmers in the country.

The GB squad is double the size of that which competed at 2009 Maccabiah Games. However, although most of the swimmers have represented Team GB at either a JCC Games or European Maccabi Games, all eight will be competing at their maiden Maccabiah on July 18.

The Junior Girls Squad includes 2011 European Maccabi Games medallist, Hollie Fisher. Joining her are Chloe Jacobs, Elisha Kramer and Rachel Ayrton, with Robert Dos Santos and Daniel Schindler completing the Junior Boys. All six are JCC Maccabi Games medal-winners and will be hoping to draw upon this experience in Israel.

The Open Squad sees another joint-JCC Maccabi Games and European Maccabi Games medallist take to the water - Naomi Ayrton, older sister of Rachel.

Completing the line-up is possibly the team’s most experienced swimmer, Adam Warner – winner of the Brighton Pier-to-Pier Race 2012, as well as two Golds (800 and 1500m freestyle) and one Bronze (400m freestyle) at the British Gas Senior and Masters National Championships.

Injecting some much-needed experience and guidance to the Squad will be Team Manager, Abbi Pinnick. She has a plethora of Maccabiot under her belt, having won a Swimming Relay Bronze in 2001 and a Netball Silver from 2009. She has also overseen the Maccabi GB Swimming Squad at the JCC Maccabi Games 2010.

Speaking about expectations for her swimmers at the 19th Maccabiah Games, Pinnick, said, "Having represented my country before at the Maccabiah Games, I know that the Squad will have a fantastic time – it is my job to ensure they enjoy themselves and the whole experience.

"We have some very talented swimmers in both age groups and I’m excited to be part of Maccabi GB alongside them and other members of the Jewish Community from around the world."

TEAM GB MACCABIAH SWIMMING SQUAD:

Junior Girls:
Rachel Ayrton
Chloe Jacobs
Elisha Kramer
Hollie Fisher

Junior Boys:
Robert Dos Santos
Daniel Schindler

Open Women:
Naomi Ayrton

Open Men:
Adam Warner

Warner celebrates win double

Danny Caro — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:53:16 +0100

Adam Warner successfully defended his 1,500m title at the London Region Championships.

Warner, who will represent Team GB in his first Maccabiah Games in July, also won the 400m freestyle race.

He said: "I'm really pleased with how I swam at the weekend. I hope my good times will put me in a fast heat for the Maccabiah.

"Training has been going very well and I am completing my final preparations before heading to Israel."

Warner has been acclimatising for the Games with a warm weather training camp in Mallorca. He will compete in races in Sheffield and Plymouth, as well as an open water event in Germany, before travelling to Israel.

Grant makes a splash

Danny Caro — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:53:09 +0000

Ellie Grant was the star performer at the Essex County Championships.

She won 10 golds, four silvers and two bronze medals in the girls 11-year-old age group.

Grant, 11, was named the top female swimmer in her age category and best overall competitor. She excelled in the 200m, her strongest event, breaking the long-standing event record time of 2:52:05.

Grant said: “I really enjoy swimming and am glad I did the event best time in my favourite stroke.”

The London Borough of Redbridge Swimming Club member is now preparing for the London Regional Championships in June.

Are you ready for the new big Macc test?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:02:30 +0000

Maccabi GB are looking for athletes to challenge in the ultimate test at the 19th Maccabiah Games - the Man/Woman Endurance Challenge.

With most athletes already selected to represent the country in Israel this summer, the new Endurance Challenge will identify men and women with the highest stamina.

Competitors will have the opportunity to go for gold in a selection of events – Open Water Swim, Cycling, Half-Marathon, Triathlon or, the ultimate challenge for any Jewish athlete, a combination of all four.

Previously, no Maccabiah athlete has been permitted to compete in more than one event. However, the Endurance Challenge allows competitors to participate in any or all of these events, with a podium finish possible in all of them, in the Open (18-35) and Masters (36+) categories.

It will be a case of survival of the fittest in a 5km swim, individual time trial 30km cycling race, half-marathon (21.1km) or triathlon, featuring a 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and a 10km run.

Team GB manager David Pinnick said: "The Endurance Challenge is a unique opportunity for endurance athletes in this country to compete in one of the toughest endurance competitions around. By introducing these events to the already fantastic line-up of sports the Maccabiah Games has to offer, it really does make for an exciting spectacle.

"We encourage anyone in the community, who is enthusiastic and talented when it comes to endurance sport, to put themselves forward for Team GB and experience the opportunity of a lifetime – representing your country amongst other Jewish athletes from around the world."

For application details, contact Maccabi GB on 0208 457 2333.

2013 is all about the Maccabiah

Danny Caro — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:56:46 +0000

It's virtually impossible to follow a year like 2012 on the sporting front, but quite clearly, the main focus in Jewish terms will be the 19th Maccabiah Games in Israel.

A number of my ones to watch in 2013 will be lining up for what is expected to be a star-studded event, kicking-off at Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium in July.

Team GB swimmer Adam Warner has made a big splash in both the short and long-course disciplines and he is relishing his first Maccabiah experience. However, he will his work cut out trying to muscle in on a place on the podium, with American Olympic star Jason Lezak a possible opponent.

Another youngster on an upward curve is track queen Ellie Edwards who will be looking to emulate the achievements of Richard Goodman in 2009. Ellie’s progress was hampered by injuries last year, but she oozes star qualities and is sure to light up the track at Hadar Yosef.

Having finished rock bottom of the five-team cricket competition four years ago, Britain’s Open squad will be looking to impress in a tournament I expect Israel to feature strongly in. Eshkol Solomon will be gunning for the top run-scorer accolade, but I expect to see the likes of Richard Black rise to the occasion. Having made a handful of appearances for the Belgium national team last year, he could be a dark horse in terms of the Player of the Tournament.

* The JC MSFL season restarts on Sunday with the clash between 2012 treble winners Hendon United Sports Club A and 2011 double kings Redbridge Jewish Care A the match of the day. Hammers boss David Garbacz has described it as a “must-win game”. The defending champions will be missing injured duo Alex Gilbert and Jacob Gold, but Garbacz is confident they will have enough.

He said: “We finished 2012 off well and to be honest the break came at the wrong time because we were really getting it together in our last couple of games so I’m hoping we can carry that form into Sunday’s game.

"Redbridge have been a real bogey team for us over the last couple of seasons – they are always hard to break down and are excellent at taking chances in what is traditionally a tight fixture.

"There are few better teams who can hold on to a lead than Redbridge, but if we were to get in front it could completely ruin their game-plan."

* MSFL chairman David Wolff has warned clubs that the dreaded double-header scenario could come into play if the bad weather persists. Teams should prepare for the worst.

Email dcaro@thejc.com and/or follow Danny on Twitter: @djcaro

Halter still going strong

James Masters — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:43:13 +0000

Forget Rebecca Adlington and Kerri-Anne Payne, it’s Susan Halter who should provide inspiration to the next generation of swimming stars.

At the age of 85, the former Olympian hits the pool every morning with the gold medals still rolling in.

Just last October during the Masters and Senior Championship in Sheffield, Halter blew away her competition in the 85-89 age group.

Hungarian-born Halter, who competed at the London Games 64 years ago, won four gold medals after triumphing in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke as well as the 50m freestyle.

That was the first time she had competed since having a pacemaker fitted last June, although that failed to prevent her from recording the fastest times in her age group in 2012.

Last summer's London Games brought the memories flooding back for Halter, who still recalls her time at the 1948 Olympics with great fondness.

"I remember it being very, very hot and I was extremely excited," she said.

"It was so big and overwhelming. The Olympics are the biggest event in sport and we saw that during the summer.

"I didn’t get past the heats to make the semi-finals but it was a wonderful experience.

"I was lucky enough to get taken around the Olympic Village in London this summer and it was amazing.

"Unfortunately, I didn’t have a ticket for the Games as I competed for Hungary and not Team GB, but I was more than happy to watch from the comfort of my sofa.

"But the most important thing about the Olympics is that I am still swimming today.”

Not only does Halter swim five times a week, she also partakes in water aerobics and Pilates.

It was at the age of six in her native Hungary that she began swimming, before enjoying success at a school gala four years later.

When antisemtic laws prohibiting Jews from competing in swimming competition came into effect in 1941, Halter was forced to swim in a Jewish-only pool away from her rivals.

"It was a difficult time," she said. "I wanted to swim but we were told we weren’t allowed to compete.

"Then eventually we were told that we weren’t allowed to swim at all and were made to wear yellow stars.

"But I still managed to sneak out with a friend to go swimming at a pool where nobody recognised us.”

It was after the war that Halter returned to the pool and in 1950 she starred at the Maccabiah Games in Israel.

There she won four gold medals and also met her future husband, Roman, who was representing the British Water Polo team.

Roman, who passed away at the age of 85 last January, also kept up his swimming into later life.

"I used to go to swimming every morning with Roman,” said Halter.

"Towards the end it was more difficult for him and I wasn’t sure about myself after having the pacemaker fitted.

"But I still love it and my children love it too. My son and daughter both live in Israel and love swimming.

After shaking off a recent cold, Halter is now hoping to swim in the British Southern Championships in February.

"I hope I am well enough to swim at Crawley but I am just so happy to be swimming still."

Bronze for Warner

Danny Caro — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:16:15 +0000

Adam Warner claimed a medal his first short-course competition of the season.

Warner, who will represent Team GB at next summer’s Maccabiah Games, took bronze in the 1,500m race and set a new personal best at the London Region Winter Championships at Barnet Copthall in north-west London.

Warner, who is now a member at Hillingdon Swimming Club, said: “I’m really happy with the race as it is very early in the season. I’ve got to keep working hard if I want that medal at the Maccabiah.”

2012 Paralympics: Day 10 round-up

Danny Caro — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:34:07 +0100

Israel won another two medals on Day 10 of the 2012 Paralympic Games to take their tally to eight overall.

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS
Noam Gershony won Israel's first gold medal of the 2012 Paralympic Games after beating David Wagner of America in straights sets on Saturday.

The Israeli, aged 29, ran out a 6-3, 6-1 victor against the top seed in the Quad Singles final on Centre Court at Eton Manor to win his second medal of the Games.

SWIMMING
Inbal Pezaro claimed her third bronze of the Games after coming home in third in the Women's 100m Freestyle S5 at the Aquatics Centre.

Racing in Lane 3, Pezaro came home in 1:22:56, just over four seconds behind the winner, Teresa Perales of Spain.

ROAD CYCLING
There was disappointment for Israel at Brands Hatch as the Mixed H 1-4 Team Relay race contingent of Pascale Bercovitch, Nati Groberg and Kobi Leon failed to finish.

Koning-Peper makes a splash at Paralympics

Danny Caro — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 08:13:55 +0100

Mirjam de Koning-Peper was the most successful Jewish athlete on week one of the 2012 Paralympic Games.

The Dutch paraplegic swimmer won gold and bronze at the Aquatics Centre to take her overall Paralympic medal tally to six.

Koning-Peper, 33, came home first in the Women’s 50m freestyle S6 to win the Netherlands’ fourth gold of the Games, edging out Victoria Arlen of the USA and long-standing friend and double gold medallist Eleanor Simmonds in the process.

The mother-of-one was born with damaged connective tissue and has had seven anterior cruciate ligament operations. She won four medals, including two golds, in Beijing in 2008.

2012 Paralympics: Day 6 round-up

Danny Caro — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:50:58 +0100

Inbal Pezaro missed out on a third medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games, but Israel's men are assured of a medal in the Quad Singles Wheelchair Tennis competition after excelling in the last eight.

SWIMMING
Inbal Pezaro finished fourth in the Women's 100m Breaststroke final after coming home in a time of 1:56:53. She was edged out of what would have been her third bronze of the Games by Teresa Perales of Spain.

Earlier in the day, Pezaro had finished runner-up in her heat at the Aquatics Centre in a time of 1:57:95.

Swimming in Lane 2, Pezaro finished more than 13 seconds behind heat winner Nataliia Prologaieva of Russia who went on to win the final, setting a new world record in the process..

Pezaro has already won medals in the 50m Freestyle and 100m Freestyle.

A time of 39:02 was not enough to earn Inbal Ganapol Shwartz a place in the final of the 50m Freestyle S6.

Erel Halevi finished sixth in her heat of the Women's 50m Freestyle S7 in a time of 38:30.

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS
Israel is guaranteed a medal in the Men's Quad Singles Wheelchair Tennis competition after Shraga Weinberg and Noam Gershony reach the semi-final stage following excellent performances in their respective last eight matches at Eton Manor.

Weinberg came from a set down to beat defending champion Peter Norfolk of Great Britain 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 after a two-hour 16-minute marathon.

He said: "I expected a very tough match. I'm very, very happy. I couldn't be happier to defeat him in front of his home crowd."

Norfolk commented: "I thought Shraga played okay. The big change was in my grip and not hitting it back in court. If you don't hit it in the court you can't win."

Second seed Gershony eased past Bryan Barten of America 6-1, 6-1 in just 45 minutes.

Weinberg will play Gershony for a place in the gold medal match on Thursday afternoon.

Boaz Kramer failed to make the last four after going down David Wagner 6-3, 6-0 in just over an hour.

EQUESTRIAN
There was more disappointment for Yonatan Dressler who finished last in the Individual Freestyle Test - Grade III at Greenwich Park. He completed the course in 60:250.

SAILING
Hagar Zehavi and Shimon Ben Yakov placed eighth out of 11 in the Two-Person Keelboat (SKUD18) in Weymouth.

SHOOTING
Dror Shazari claimed a final score of 691.8 to finish a respectable sixth in the final of the Mixed R6-50m Rifle Prone-SH1 at the Royal Artillery Barracks.