Two Weston Swimming Club members picked up gold medals during national championships races.

For the majority of swimmers aged 12-plus, their season’s goal is to compete at the British Summer Championships or ASA Summer Nationals in Sheffield during July/August.

To qualify, swimmers need to be invited, by having posted one of the top 24 times of all the swimmers in their age group in the UK, or one of the next 20 times of all the English athletes, within the qualification window (mid-March until the end of May).

This year, Weston Swimming Club was represented by eight individuals, across 24 swims.

In a change to previous years, the open water festival kicked off this year’s competition, with Immy Moroney claiming bronze in the girls’ 16 years 3km.

The British Championships started fabulously, with day one seeing Evan King (female captain) qualifying for the 17/18 year girls’ 200m freestyle final in a new personal best time (PB) and James King (male captain) swimming close to his best, to take 21st in his debut swim at this meet.

Moroney continued her great form from the open water event and dropped her 400m individual medley PB twice in one day, to finish eighth

James King, improved from his opening swim, with a new best time in the 50m breaststroke. Moroney continued her great form to swim within one second of her 800m freestyle PB and Holly Richards rose to the challenge of her first swim at this level, being close to her best in the 50m butterfly.

James’ highest seeding of the meet came in the 200m breaststroke, where he finished 13th, in a swim that was nine seconds faster than his best from the same time last year. Focusing purely on controlling her stroke rate, Evan King’s 400m freestyle was another best time.

Swimming close to the PB that she set at Olympic trials in Glasgow, earlier in the year, Evan King’s 100m butterfly resulted in her finishing within the top five 18-year-olds in Great Britain, once again.

The English Nationals followed quickly, with Holly Richards, Megan Richards, Evan Brunsdon and Lucy Davies all swimming close to their bests to earn themselves a lane in their finals.

Holly consolidated her morning swim to take ninth in her first national final, with Megan (7th), Evan (6th) and Lucy (1st) all rising to the occasion, posting improved times.

Spurred on by Lucy’s 200m breaststroke gold and returning to Sheffield after a short training break back at Hutton Moor, Immy again improved her 400m freestyle time twice, to take the 16-year gold.

With a two second PB in the heats, James King booked himself a spot in his first national final and also performed yet another best time, to take silver in the 200m individual medley.

The great swims continued, this time with Freya King’s debut at a national level and Evan Brundson’s third event, both close to best times. Holly and Megan Richards again qualified for finals, by ranking within the top 10, this time in the 200m butterfly.

Bringing the meet to a close, showing no signs of competitive fatigue and completing a hat-trick of double improvements, Immy won gold again, this time in the 200m backstroke.

If you are interested in joining our team, which is focused on helping every swimmer to become the best that they can be, please contact ltswsmsc@hotmail.co.uk or headcoach@weston-super-mare-swimming-club.co.uk