A Whitehaven swimmer is hoping to make a splash at the national championships next week.
Adam Kelly, 16, has qualified to compete in the GoCardless Swim England National Summer Meet – the biggest domestic swimming event of the year – held at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.
Adam, a member of Copeland Amateur Swimming Club, will compete in the 50m and 100m breaststroke in his age group, having achieved a 1m 8sec qualifying time in a 100m race in Sunderland earlier this year.
“I’ve been swimming since I was two and a member of the club since I was nine, and these will be the biggest races I’ve ever competed in,” said Adam, who has just completed his GCSEs at Whitehaven Academy.
“I’m thrilled to have qualified for the English championships; my time was almost enough to qualify me for the British championships but unfortunately I was narrowly beaten just before the deadline.
“There will be a few of us from Cumbrian clubs competing in Sheffield so we are all looking forward to it; I enjoy the social part of swimming and being part of a team.”
Club head coach Richard Quayle has been working with Adam on a specially tailored regime to prepare him for the prestigious races.
Andy Sutton, chair of Copeland Amateur Swimming Club, said: “We are all very proud of Adam qualifying for the nationals; it is an outstanding achievement.
“He works extremely hard and deserves this chance to compete at a national level.
“Adam always shows a tremendous attitude and determination; he is a credit to our club and we wish him well.”
The GoCardless Swim England National Summer Meet takes place between July 29 and August 3.
For more information on Copeland Amateur Swimming Club, visit www.copelandasc.org.uk or visit the club’s Facebook page.
