A KENDAL swimmer travelled up to Sheffield after being invited to the British Summer National Championships.

James Escolme has finally reached a level in swimming that he has worked and trained for over so many years when he travelled to Sheffield where he was invited to participate in first of all the British Summer National Championships, then by qualification four events at a later Meet in the Swim England National Summer Championships, both events being staged at the National Ponds Forge Swim Centre.

James a pupil at Dallam School opened his account with a brilliant display of skill and technique in the 50m Breaststroke sprint.

Despite the tension and pressure, he got a great start off the block and out of transition found himself shoulder to shoulder with some of the country’s elite. Into the last 25m everyone made their bid for a place in the final. Calling on all his reserves through the pressure zone he timed his finish to perfection which put him in 9th place in 31 .34, not quite enough to get him into the final.

His next visit to Pond’s Forge proved more successful. Going into the 200m Breaststroke heats on a start time of 2:37.30 he produced a swim from the gods to qualify for the final in a life time best of 2:35.88.

He got another great start and placed himself right in the mix with leaders Alex Block from Coventry and Peter Thompson from Liverpool. Although a little off the pace his split times remained consistent and he quickly settled into his stroke pattern.

Turning into the final 50m these three turned on the screws, moved up a gear and produced the performance of their lives and calling on every last ounce of energy they could find from their reserves they stormed forward through the pressure zone and hit the pads in a blanket finish with Block taking Gold, Thompson the Silver and Escolme a magnificent bronze medal whilst lowering his best time again to 2:33.48.

Then he turned his natural talent to the 100m Breaststroke and here again he became involved in another classic with Stockport’s Davey Unwin and Hove Shiverers Leon Taylor providing the main opposition and right from the off each swimmer gave his all.

They came out of their final turn and injected more pace for Escolme to come 3rd and claim that magical place in the Final.

This produced another dazzling performance, involving Unwin, Escolme, Block and Chester Black Lion’s, Callum Farrow. With nothing between them all at the turn the pressure was intense and a hitting the pads together Unwin emerged as winner with Escolme snatching a brilliant 5th place in 1:09.53.

Turning next to another side of his all-round talent Escolme took on the gruelling 400m Individual Medley. In his heat, tactics proved all important for as well as holding off Taylor again he still had to work hard chasing leader, Felix Brockdorff from Guildford. His time of 4:53.09 and 2nd place was just enough to take him through to another final.

Escolme was impressive using all his talent and experience to challenge for the honours.

Despite a brilliant effort and again lowering his life time best to 4:51.44 he just missed out on a medal but took a brilliant 4th place. He was to complete his programme with the 200m Individual Medley where he only just managed to qualify for the final with a 2:18.50, but then with a final flourish took 6th place in a highly satisfactory time of 2:15.26 and leaving for home a very happy swimmer.

READ MORE: The Chris Swainson Trophy created for young hound handlers