Swimming: Ryan Walsh seeks Games boost

RYAN WALSH is hoping a touch of New Year resolution and Sheffield steel can help him realise his Commonwealth Games dream.

The Derwentside swimmer takes to the water for the first time in 2010 in the annual Burns Meet on January 30 and 31, which will be held at the South Yorkshire city’s Ponds Forge Pool.

The event is the first of series of meets offering possible qualification for the England swim team for this autumn’s Games in Delhi – and Walsh hopes to make a big splash in five events.

The 17-year-old from Tanfield Lea, Stanley, will contest the 50, 100 and 200 metres butterfly and the 50 and 100 metres freestyle.

His father David said: “It will be very hard for Ryan to make the Games squad because of his age, but if he performs well in Sheffield then who knows what might happen.

“Even if he fails to make it then at least he will be able to test himself against some of the best in his age group, and the experience will hold him in good stead for the future.”

Walsh goes into the Meet bolstered by a superb effort in his home club’s pre-Christmas Open Meet, where he gained four qualifying times for August’s National Championships in Sheffield.

Part of Derwentside Swimming Amateur Club which boasts Olympic gold medallist Jo Jackson among its members, the youngster’s potential was recognised last year when he clinched a place on the British Swimming Beacon Training Programme.

The Tanfield School pupil also made the British Swimming AASE Programme, an advanced apprenticeship in sporting excellence, which he joined on September 1 for two years.

Last summer Walsh swam at the National Championships in Sheffield, where he claimed a personal best in his 200m butterfly and a pb and a semi-final finish in the 100m butterfly.

Before that he competed at the British Championships for the first time, gaining personal-best times in the 100 and 200 metres butterfly, then followed up with two bronze medals at the North East Regional Championships.

Walsh won his first medal – a bronze – as a nine-year-old in the 50 metres freestyle at the Northumberland, Durham and District Championships.

In 2008 Walsh won nine gold, seven silver and three bronze medals in competitions.

He was also crowned Sport Aid champion.