British swimmers face tough challenges in Germany

Some of the stars of the Athens 2004 ParalympicsGB swimming team will be in action against many of the strongest swimmers in Europe at this weekend’s German Open Championships.

A 15-strong British squad will compete at the championships in Berlin, including double Athens 2004 gold medallists Natalie Jones, Nyree Lewis and Sascha Kindred.

Disability Swimming's National Performance Director, Tim Reddish, said Britain’s swimmers will face some tough competition.

"There should be a very good standard of competition," he said. "As a region, Europe is very strong and we are expecting a lot of other European nations to compete at this meet.

"The key purpose of this meet is that swimmers will go head to head with their main opposition. China is the only main rival they won't get to swim against, as it's rare they swim outside their country. Swimmers will also be targeting to race within two per cent of their personal best times."

Five potential programme swimmers have been selected for this meet, giving them an opportunity to make the transition to higher levels over the next few years.

The British squad selected for the German Open Championships is:

Women
Sarah Bailey (Stretford), Elaine Barrett (Out to Swim), Kate Grey (Thornbury SC), Natalie Jones (Colchester Phoenix), Rachael Latham (Horwich Leisure Centre), Nyree Lewis (Stretford), Mhairi Love (Stirling), Angela McCowan (North Ayrshire)

Men
Stuart Bloor (Crewe Flyers), Kenny Cairns (Port Glasgow Otters), Sascha Kindred ( Stretford), Andrew Lindsay (Incas), Giles Long (Barnet Copthall), Matt Walker (Marple), Matthew Whorwood (Newquay Cormorants)

Great Britain had another outstandingly successful summer Games at Athens 2004, finishing second in the overall medals table behind China and winning 94 medals – 35 golds, 30 silvers and 29 bronzes.

The British Paralympic Association is sponsored by easynet and Visa, and is also supported by lottery funding through UK Sport.

For further information about the British Paralympic Association contact: The British Paralympic Association's Press Office at Matchtight Ltd on (01225) 383518 or by email at comms@matchtight.co.uk, or see the BPA website at www.paralympics.org.uk

For further information about ParalympicsGB, please contact Sian Davies in the Press Office on 0207 211 5240 or 07721 892686 or by email at sian.davies@paralympics.org.uk.