Tag Archives: willmott

Rebecca Adlington record caps great day for Britain as swimmers shine in Barcelona

Posted on by

Adlington record caps great day for Britain as swimmers shine in Barcelona

|

UPDATED:

17:48 GMT, 2 June 2012

British swimmers dominated day one of
the Barcelona leg of the Mare Nostrum series, securing a haul of 13
medals including five golds.

Double Olympic champion Rebecca
Adlington was the pick of some strong British performances as she won
gold in the 800m Freestyle with an assured performance and a
championship record of 8 minutes 19.86 seconds.

Adlington led from the front and
built up a lead of over two seconds at the halfway stage, finishing
strongly ahead of Spain's Mireia Garcia Belmonte, the world short-course
silver medallist.

In form: Rebecca Adlington set a championship record in Barcelona

In form: Rebecca Adlington set a championship record in Barcelona

World open water champion Keri-anne Payne was fourth in 8mins 41.50secs.

'I'm very pleased with that swim,' said Adlington. 'To be honest I never expected to finish in that sort of time given the training I've been doing at this stage of the season.

'I swam here two years ago and went 8:21.00 off the same kind of preparation so to post that time tonight is a bit of a shock.

Raring to go: Rebecca Adlington is one of Britain's great medal hopes at the Olympics

Raring to go: Rebecca Adlington is one of Britain's great medal hopes at the Olympics

'I haven't backed off this week and am training right through which makes this kind of performance even more surprising.'

Hannah Miley and Aimee Willmott claimed gold and bronze respectively in the 400m individual medley.

Miley was chased closely by Willmott until the Scottish swimmer pulled out a lead at the end of the breaststroke leg.

The Garioch swimmer continued to stretch the field and touched in 4:34.68, Belmonte took silver and Willmott the bronze in 4:40.12.

Miley secured her second medal of a busy night at the Sant Andreu Club Natacio when she won bronze in the 200m breaststroke after she was narrowly squeezed out of the silver medal.

Gold went to Marina Garcia of Spain, Miley the bronze in 2:28.49 with Stacey Tadd fourth.

Georgia Davies claimed gold in the 100m backstroke in 1:00.87 while fellow Swansea ITC swimmers Jaz Carlin and Jemma Lowe were both third in the 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly, respectively.

Chris Walker-Hebborn posted his fastest time of the season to win the 200m backstroke (1:59.04), European silver medallist James Goddard won the 200m individual medley in 2:00.95 while Stockport ITC team-mate David Carry was edged out of the 400m freestyle by 0.32secs by Sebastien Rouault, finishing second in 3:51.96.

Michael Jamieson was second in the 100m breaststroke dominated by world championship bronze medallist Cameron van der Burgh, the Briton touching in 1:01.17 with Craig Benson fourth.

Rob Pavoni and Matt Johnson claimed silver and bronze in the 200m butterfly.

Luton 1 York 2

Posted on by

Luton 1 York 2: Minstermen stage thrilling comeback to seal return to Football League

|

UPDATED:

16:04 GMT, 20 May 2012

York's eight-year exile from the Football League is over after they beat Luton in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final at Wembley.

The Minsterman, relegated in 2004, were beaten finalists two years ago, but went one better this afternoon as goals from Ashley Chambers and Matty Blair wiped out Andre Gray's early goal.

Indeed, the 30,000-plus Luton fans were celebrating after just 71 seconds as they enjoyed a dream start when Robbie Willmott slipped in Gray from the left and the striker opened his body and placed a superb effort into the bottom corner.

We are going up! Matty Blair celebrates scoring the winner for York

We are going up! Matty Blair celebrates scoring the winner for York

York could have been flustered, but they responded by bombarding the Luton goal for much of the next 20 minutes.

Jon Challinor almost levelled but his goalbound shot was deflected over by Alex Lawless and then Jason Walker forced Mark Tyler into an athletic save as he tipped over the 18-goal striker's header.

But Gary Mills' men got reward for their total domination in the 26th minute when Chambers rifled in an unstoppable effort from 16 yards following a Lanre Oyebanjo free-kick.

Level pegging: Ashley Chambers of York (second leg) celebrates his goal

Level pegging: Ashley Chambers of York (second leg) celebrates his goal

If Luton thought their start to the first half would not be bettered, they were mistaken as York needed just 69 seconds of the second half to take the lead for the first time, though it should have been ruled out for offside.

Oyebanjo launched a long throw into the area, Walker flicked on and Blair advanced a yard past the last defender and tucked home.

Luton were unable to respond in the manner that the Minstermen did in the first half and James Meredith headed over and Chambers brought a save out of Tyler as the Minstermen pushed.

High jump: Jon Challinor of York City tangles with Stuart Fleetwood of Luton

Battle: Jason Walker and George Pilkington jump for the ball

Fight for the ball: Luton and York players do battle for the ball at Wembley

The Hatters eventually stirred and Gray should have levelled, but just three yards out he inexplicably missed his kick twice and York cleared their lines, while some heroic defending from Oyebanjo denied John Kissock.

Luton threw everything forward in the final minutes in a bid to force extra time, but York held firm to seal their return to the Football League.