THE Somerset Amateur Swimming Association held its first county development gala at Hutton Moor.

THE Somerset Amateur Swimming Association held its first county development gala at Hutton Moor.

This gala is a new venture by the association to encourage the younger or the inexperienced swimmer to compete against other club swimmers in the county at a suitable level and gain competitive experience. Weston entered 16 swimmers, earning four gold, four silver and 12 bronze medals. The swimmers also produced an impressive 37 personal best times.

In the youngest age group, 9-year-old Hannah Anderson swam to a third place in the 200m backstroke in a time of 3.53.45, a personal best, and gained another personal best in the 200m freestyle 3.58.14.

In the same age group Alison Reep swam a 58.22 in the 50m breast to record her personal best. Holly Wadsworth also gained personal best times with a 45.99 in the 50m freestyle and a 52.95 in the 50m back. Lauren Hodgkin was another swimmer to improve her times with a 42.15 in the 50m freestyle.

Alice Davies collected three medals her gold came in the 100m individual medley 1.44.24 for a personal best, her silver in the 50m fly 51.42 and her bronze in the 50m breast 52.42 a personal best.

In the 10 years age group, Jasmine Moroney came away with a whole host of medals and personal best times. She claimed top spot in the 200m free in a time of 2.53.01, a silver in the 100m individual medley and three bronzes in the 50m freestyle 37.77 (PB), 200m back 3.18.35 (PB) and 200m individual medley 3.16.52 (PB). Personal bests were also earned in the 50m back (43.90), 50m fly (45.98) and 50m breast (51.96).

Charlotte Bowden's medals came in the 100m individual medley where she took top spot with a time of 1.32.63 a personal best time of 3.10.83 in the 200m back earned her second gold.

Lauren Gifford recorded four personal best times on her way to taking three bronze medals in her races, these came in the 200m back (3.18.35), 50m breast (49.18) and 50m fly (43.63) her other two personal bests came in the 50m free where she swam a 38.08 and in the 200m free (2.58.88).

In the 11 years age group, Lauren's older sister Georgia earned a silver in the 50m freestyle in a time of 37.10 personal best and a bronze in the 50m breast (47.15). Her personal best times came in the 100m freestyle 1.22.23, 200 back 3.20.38 and 200 freestyle 2.55.59.

Hannah Vallance, in her first competitive swim for the club, did extremely well, claiming a silver in the 50m back 42.55 personal best and earning another three personal best times in 100m breast 1.31.87, 200 individual medley 3.22.80 and 200m freestyle 2.57.69.

For the boys, 11-year-old Michael Harding swam to a third spot in the 100m individual medley in a time of 1.40.36, creating a new personal best time in that event.

In the 12 years age group, Ella Mae Beale, another new competitive swimmer for the club, created a personal best time when taking silver in the 50m breastroke with a time of 44.64. Ella Mae was unlucky not to take a medal position in the 50m freestyle when she was just pipped into fourth place in her heat of that event.

Jon Reep took a massive 10 seconds off his 200m breast time swimming a 3.32.02 in his race. Jon went on to swim another two personal best times these came in the 50m breastroke 45.09 and 50m back 42.69.

Weston's most senior competitor 13 year old Sam Harding impressed in his three races taking bronze in the 50m breastroke in a time of 45.40 PB and earning another PB in the 100m freestyle 1.21.38. Well done to all swimmers who took part.