The star of the show from Newcastle's perspective was undoubtedly Kate Smith swimming in the 25-29 years age group. Kate started of the week with a pb of 10:18.35 in the 800m FS to take 6th place overall. She followed this up with a very impressive 100m FS - another p.b. of 1:02.47 - to take a "disappointing" 4th place. The disappointment of just missing the top 3 obviously spurred her on because the next day she smashed her best time for 200m FS and took the GOLD medal by over 2 seconds with a time of 2:14.44 to become the NEW WORLD CHAMPION. Finally, to round off a superb competition, she blasted out a 28.08 50m FS to take another 4th place. Kate was obviously delighted with all of her swims as was Senior Squad Coach, Geoff Peart. Geoff was particularly pleased by the way Kate held form in the second half of longer events - all those "back-end speed" sessions paying dividends.

Kate becomes the Senior Squad's fourth World Champion following Nikki Gordon (now Aitchison) in Indianapolis in 1992, Lorraine Montford (now Rankin) in Montreal in 1994 and Martin Douglas at the World Masters Games in Melborne in 2002.  Meanwhile, for the men Nick Valentine was also swimming extremely well in the 25-29 year age group. Nick swam a solid 800m FS in very wet and windy conditions in the outdoor pool to move up the rankings to 13th position. Two days later he was back on a sunnier day to take 2 seconds off his best time for 400IM and clinched a top ten placing - 8th in 5:12.42 - and that good run of form continued into the shorter 200 IM the next day again knocking 2 seconds off his p.b. to finish
in 15th with 2:25.16. Nick's favourite event, the 200m 'Fly, was also his last swim but the exertions of the week took their toll and he swam a disappointing (for him) 2:25.84 - but still managed another 8th place finish. Nick was gutted to swim his slowest 200 Fly of the year at the Worlds, but he was philosophical.

"These things happen sometimes, I just died on the last 50m", he said. I'm sure once he has time to reflect on the full week he will realise how well he swam. Unfortunately, this is Nick's last competitive event representing Newcastle as he is moving to the new North Tyneside Masters but I'm sure we all wish him well and will still be routing for him over the coming years.

Our other swimmers were Jaime Hernandez in the 45/49 years age group and Peter French in the 50/54 age group. Jaime was not phased at all by his first major international swimming competition and he knocked big chunks off all his best times in his 3 events. Hopefully he will continue to train when he returns to his native Columbia later this year. Peter also swam very well, particularly in the outdoor pool, with season best times in the 200m FS, 800m FS and the 50 Fly.