Weston Swimming Club has enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in its history.

WESTON Swimming Club has just completed one of the most successful seasons in its 133-year history.

The club competed with the biggest clubs in the country in the Premier Division of the National Arena Swimming League, finished second in the Southern Junior League, sent a record number of swimmers to the South West Regional Championships.

It has also seen its men’s water polo team promoted to Division 1 of the Bristol & West Water Polo League and one of its talented female players qualify for the GB Talent Polo Programme.

The establishment of its masters section and the continued growth of Learn to Swim, the season was recently rounded off with a record number of seven swimmers competing at the ASA National Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

Pitting their wits against the elite swimming talent in Britain were Rachel Anderson, Immy Moroney, Evan King, Jas Moroney, Lucy Davies, Marcus Gardiner and Esme Gullick.

Rookie national swimmers Rachel, Immy, Jas and Marcus all performed superbly, as did Evan, Lucy and Esme, who had appeared at this level in previous years.

Rachel, aged 11, the second youngest female competitor in the whole event, achieved impressive personal best times in all three of her events – 200m individual medley, 200m backstroke and 100m backstroke – qualifying for the 100m backstroke final, finishing in a super ninth place in the combined 11/12 years age group.

Immy (12) swam in five events and also achieved notable PBs in each, finishing ninth in the 200m backstroke final and in the top 12 in 400m and 800m freestyle, as well as in the gruelling 400m individual medley.

After a tough season, 14-year-old Evan bounced back in superb style, achieving PBs in all three of her individual events, starting with breaking the magic 60 second barrier for the 100m freestyle for the first time, then qualifying for the finals in the 100m and 200m fly events, finishing eighth and sixth respectively, bettering her heat PBs in the finals.

She also swam in three area network relay teams, with the pinnacle being a super silver medal in the 4x100m medley relay, with Evan starring in the fly leg.

Also appearing in one of the relay teams (the 4x200m freestyle) and shining brightly under the national spotlight was 14-year-old Jas Moroney, who clocked a fantastic one second PB split on the anchor leg in 2.13.60, with the team agonisingly missing the final by 0.13 seconds.

In the youth championships, Marcus (16) achieved a massive 2.59 second PB in the heats of the 100m breaststroke, then shaved off another 0.3 seconds in the semi-final to qualify fourth fastest for the final, where he was edged out of a podium position by the narrowest of margins to land a fantastic fifth place.

One of the highlights of Lucy’s meet was a new PB in the 200m breaststroke, going faster than her previous PB achieved at the British Olympic trials, to qualify for the semi-finals, where as one of the youngest swimmers in the combined 15/16 age group, she attained a super 18th position.

Lucy also achieved a large 1.15 second PB in her leg of the area network team’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay and contributed, alongside Esme, to three relay teams.

Having reached the final in the 200m fly in 2012, Esme (18) repeated this amazing feat this year, finishing in 10th place. She also ended her final nationals before jetting off across the pond to take up a scholarship at Fresno University with semi-final appearances in the 200m individual medley and 100m fly events, bringing the curtain down on an amazing championship for Weston Swimming Club.

The club is extremely grateful to Country View Holiday Park for sponsoring the swimmers’ shirts at the nationals.

Trials are always available for those who wish to join the club – email Rachel Aldington – headcoach@)weston-super-mare-swimming-club.co.uk

For Learn to Swim information (small group lessons for ages 4-9 years) email Zara Gardner - ltswsmsc@hotmail.co.uk or for water polo/masters, email Mike Coles - secretary@weston-super-mare-swimming-club.co.uk