Casey Tiger Sharks coach Ben Hiddlestone has high hopes for, back from left, Craig Watson and Brad York, and front, Jemma Phillips, Trent Lindsey and Matthew Charlesworth at the Victorian Short Course Age Championships this month.By Marc McGowan
WITH the exposure to national open competition behind them, the Casey Tiger Sharks are looking confidently ahead to this month’s Victorian Short Course Age Championships.
Brad York, 17, and Craig Watson, 14, represented the Tiger Sharks at last week’s Australian Short Course Open Championships.
Both swimmers racked up two personal bests in what was billed as a learning experience, with the focus always firmly on the state age championships.
The biggest interest was in whether Watson, in his debut at that level, could better the Victorian record he set at last month’s New South Wales Short Course Championships in the 200-metre backstroke, but his heavy training load made it an unrealistic goal.
Casey undertook its toughest training week in some time, with the teenagers completing eight 800 metres on the Saturday night before racing on Sunday.
Tiger Sharks head coach Ben Hiddlestone explained that York and Watson had no intention of making an impact at the national event.
“Those two were going for international level experience and were not targeting times or results whatsoever,” he said.
“The kids have to understand there is a delayed reward and we’re really putting in the effort now, and I’m confident that the work now will reward them in two weeks’ time.”
York competed at the Australian Short Course Championships for the first time last year and will tackle national open standard swimming more seriously next season.
Watson, who is leading the Casey charge, will most likely target age competition for another year before having a genuine crack at open level in 2009.
“Craig will walk around the state age short course not fazed or nervous at all after marshalling with some of the world’s best swimmers,” Hiddlestone said.
“He’s going to go back to the state age short course and be able to focus on his own results and swimming and not be overawed.”
The Tiger Sharks are well and truly winding up for competition now and are expecting about 30 of their swimmers to participate at the Victorian Short Course Age Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
As usual, there are several competitors at the front of the pack, and Hiddlestone expects York, Watson, Trent Lindsey, Matthew Charlesworth and Jemma Phillips to enjoy the most success.
Ten-year-old Charlesworth is exciting everyone at the club with his continued strong performances and has been earmarked as a major threat for gold medals.
“He swam as a nine-year-old in the under 11s last year, but this year he’s 10 and will go close to medalling in a lot of events and will have a big impact for the club,” Hiddlestone said.
“He will be devastating in January at the state (long course) titles and he is up to the calibre of what Craig is doing.”
