Clevedon Swimming Club has secured a place in the final of the National Arena League.

SWIMMERS from Clevedon Swimming Club, sponsored by Hotspring Southwest and Wales, are celebrating the news that the club has once again made the B final of Division 1 in the National Arena League.

Since being promoted a few years ago, it has always been the club’s aim to maintain their position in Division 1.

This year has proved particularly challenging with the number of clubs in the division increasing from 18 to 24, and with many of the swimmers being in the lower age of the double age band for some of the events.

Great performances by the swimmers in the first two rounds means that Clevedon are once again guaranteed to keep their status and can go into the B final armed with this knowledge and celebrate.

The news rounds off some good swims by the club’s swimmers over the last two weeks. Their second round in the Arena League saw the team battling for the points in a closely fought gala, with Clevedon at one point sitting in third slot.

Eleven-year-old Mason Smith secured the first win of the evening with an impressive 50m backstroke, while national swimmer Amelia Chappell took the honours in the 15 & under 100m backstroke and butterfly.

There were more wins from George Leaman in the 15 & under boy’s 100m backstroke and Georgia Ardren in the open ladies’ 100m backstroke. However, the second half of the gala saw the points slip away with fewer high scoring swims as Clevedon fell away to fifth place in the end, but securing a high enough position on the night to ensure enough league points to get them through to the final in December.

The club is currently in the middle of the distance events for their own club championships with many championship best times being posted. This culminates next weekend with their own club championships which this year are moving from their home pool Strode, to Hutton Moor in Weston, to accommodate the increasing number of swimmers taking part, and the spectators cheering them on.

A group of swimmers took time out from competition and training to pay a visit to the club’s sponsors, Hotspring Southwest and Wales, and swim in their Riptide Swim Spa.

The club are very grateful to Hotspring for their support, which means that more swimmers can experience the excitement of competitive swimming.

The club will be running assessments in December for potential new members, particularly those aged seven to nine years, who currently have regular swimming lessons at ASA Stage 5 or higher.

There are places currently at the club on Thursday and Sunday evenings. If you have a child swimming at this level and would like to see what the club can offer, then visit their website at www.clevedonasc.co.uk or email join@clevedonasc.co.uk to book an assessment.