Weston Swimming Club members registered national qualifying times at the age group championships held at Millfield School.

WITH much to live up to following the outstanding performances of national championship-bound Esme Gullick and Marcus Gardiner in the regional youth championships, Weston’s record entry of age-group regional swimmers (10 to 14 years) did not disappoint at their recent championships held at Millfield School. Pitting their wits against the best talent from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset were Chloe Knight, Evan Brunsdon, Evan King, Florence Davis, Hannah Anderson, Holly Richards, Immy Moroney, Jasmine Moroney, Jess Dadds, Lauren Hodgkin, Lucy Davies, Millie Dadds, Oscar Rogers, Rachel Anderson, Rebecca Lucas and Will Daniel.

All performed superbly, achieving personal best times in almost every event - no mean feat, particularly for Hannah, Holly, Lauren, Oscar and Will, who were competing at this level for the first time.

In the overall BAGCAT championship (decided by the best performers over a range of strokes and distances), 11-year-old Rachel Anderson finished first for the second year in a row, claiming three championship gold medals (100m/200m backstroke and 400m freestyle), six silvers and also attained three national qualifying times.

She will join Immy Moroney, Evan King and Lucy Davies at the British Gas ASA National Championships in Sheffield. Immy finished fourth overall in the 12-year-old category, collecting a super silver medal in the 800m freestyle, with a total of five final appearances and an outstanding fifth national qualifying time in the 200m freestyle event.

Evan’s fourth place in the 14 year age group was testament to her consistency in making five finals, achieving season’s best swims in the process, as well as winning gold and bronze in the nationals-bound network freestyle and medley relay teams.

Lucy had a smoking hot championship, collecting a superb four championship gold medals (100m/200m breaststroke and 200m/400m individual medley) and two more national qualifying times.

Jasmine Moroney was also in the medals, winning bronze in her 4x200m freestyle network relay team, which has qualified for the national championships in this event.

Weston’s other finalist was Millie Dadds who, having nursed a shoulder injury all of the week preceding the championships, swam superbly to record a 200m fly personal best heat time and then matched it in the final.

Weston’s younger swimmers were also on fire. At the recent Southwold Open Meet, the collective efforts of the team led Weston to receive the top visiting club trophy.

Well done to Hannah Anderson, Rachel Anderson, Caitlin Ashurst, Evan Brunsdon, Sarah Carr, Chloe Dew, Elliott Dew, Harvey Dew, Rachel Eveleigh, Rhianna Gardner, David Hoskin, Holly Hudghton, Freya King, James King, Chloe Knight, Jessica Knight, Alison Reep, Bethan Rees, Joe Reeves, Harry Reynolds, Madeleine Soper, Ruby Soper, Charlotte Stanbury, Caitlyn Wallis and Hollie Wilcox.

Many of these swimmers will represent the club at the forthcoming A final of the Southern Junior League in Swindon, where a place at the national semi-final awaits the victors, something achieved by the club in 2011.

To find out more about Weston Swimming Club, visit the website www.weston-super-mare-swimming-club.co.uk, or to join our hugely successful Learn To Swim section (for swimmers four to nine years, to feed into the competitive club), email Zara Gardner - ltswsmsc@hotmail.co.uk, to arrange a swimming trial, contact head coach Rachel Aldington – headcoach@weston-super-mare-swimming-club.co.uk or to enquire about water polo or masters, contact Mike Coles - secretary@weston-super-mare-swimming-club.co.uk