Tazmin realises her dream
06 Aug 2012
Tazmin realises her dream
In qualifying for this year's National Age Group Swimming Championships at the Long Course 50m International pool at Ponds Forge in Sheffield, Pershore's Tazmin Pugh had already fulfilled one of her last 12 months ambitions of reaching at least four events at this year's Nationals. She had to wait to see if her second dream would come true of reaching the finals in at least one event.
In her first race Tazmin came into the event with a short course qualifying time which put her in 31st and last place so any improvement on that would be a bonus. In the event and swimming a superb second length Tazmin surprised everyone by recording a new long course personal best (pb) of 1:02.85 climbing to finish equal 12th and being announced as 2nd reserve for the finals with two overseas swimmers unfortunately for Tazmin allowed to occupy two of the ten lanes. Her excellent time also means she now lies 1st of 12 year old girls in the UK end of year rankings.
Tazmin's second race the 200m backstroke quickly followed allowing little time to recover and unable to convert her standing to a new pb though with only four younger getting the better of her and finishing 16thof the UK swimmers.
In the five day Championships Tazmin was in action again on the second and fourth days with the 100m butterfly and the 100m backstroke respectively with the fly being the pick. Swimming in the heats she was one of the quickest of the 12 years olds with a new pb of 1:08.60 succeeding in realises one of her ambitions of making the finals in a National Championship qualifying in joint 9thplace. With the top qualifiers swimming 3 seconds quicker all Tazmin could do was swim another pb and she did not disappoint with a 1:08.37 and finishing in 8th place and even more pleasing knowing she was the youngest swimmer.
Tazmin can now proudly put the last 12 months and this year's Championships behind her and realise it as not only successful but an invaluable taste of top level swimming experiencing the tension and sometimes loneliness of the call room and the 20 minutes without contact with her coach or parent together with the raz-ma-taz of a running commentary and her pictures and race broadcast live on the big screen. She hopes she has blazed the way as the first one in her club to make the Nationals, for one or two more of her more talented club mates also to make the tough qualifying times in the years to come.
This 100m fly time also sees her climb to 1stplace at the very top of the UK end of year December rankings. Being one of only two swimmers aged 11 รป 14 who train in a Herefordshire or Worcestershire club to make a finals and score points for their club at the Championships her potential has been recognised once again in being selected for the fifth time for her County in her biggest Inter-County match to be held in Sheffield in October.
Following her results from the Nationals even more delight came Tazmin's way in being invited to join the likes of her country's elite on the England Talent Development Programme at the first time of asking eligibility starting at 12 years of age.
Ian P photo