This gala was held at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge pool and with competitive entry times only the finest swimmers in the region could take part. Eighteen swimmers from COSASC’s Performance and Age Group Development Squads braved the snowy weather to travel to Sheffield and recorded some outstanding performances.
A new British record was set by seventeen year old Nicole Lough who swims in the Women’s S14 disability category. Nicole set the record in the 50m breaststroke event where she finished in a time of 36.32 seconds and took gold in the combined results for the ‘multi-disability by British disability points’ category. Nicole added a gold and silver from the 100m breaststroke and 200m freestyle events
Adam Taylor, 16, swam superbly well throughout the weekend to win six medals in the sixteen and under age group. He finished with gold medals from the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 50m butterfly and the 100m butterfly events. The butterfly times of 25.38 seconds and 58.03 respectively, were both personal best times and new club records, with the 50m time placing Adam at number 18 in the Senior Male British rankings. Adam also won a silver medal in the 50m freestyle in 24.77 seconds, a personal best time and new club record and completed a successful weekend with a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke.
Fourteen year old Freya Rayner, continues to produce exceptional performances, bringing home three medals in the fourteen and under age group. Freya was first in the 50m backstroke in 30.64 seconds and first in the 100m backstroke in 1:05.89 minutes and won a silver medal in the 50m butterfly with a time of 29.74 seconds.  These times were all personal best times and ‘All Time’ club records.  More importantly, Freya has qualified to swim at the British Gas International Swimming Meet which acts as the trials for the European Junior Swimming Championships, European Youth Olympic Festival and World Youth Championships which all take place later in the year.
Matthew Wylie, 16, swimming in the S9 disability category, took home four medals in the ‘combined result  multi-disability by British disability points’ category. He was second in the 100m and 400m freestyle and third in the 50m freestyle and 200 I/M events.
Lucy Ellis, 16, and James Burns, 15, both had a successful weekend’s competition gaining new personal best times and new club records. Lucy set new club records in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke distances whilst James claimed the club record for the 800m and 1500m freestyle distances, finishing 5th in the latter event. James also produced new personal best times in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle events and in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.
Making finals were:  Jodi Bunker, 13, who finished 7th in the 800m freestyle and 10th in the 100m breaststroke, Gabrielle Burdess, 14, 7th in the 50m backstroke, 10th in the 200 I/M and 400 I/M, Jessica Thompson, 14, 5th 200m butterfly, Lucy Walton, 15,  6th in the 800m freestyle, 8th in the 200m backstroke and 400m I/M events, Emma Sinclair, 16, 5th 200m butterfly, Joe Middleton, 17, 5th 50m backstroke and Alex Robinson, 18, 5th 400 I/M.
Claiming a further ten new personal best times between them were Amy Henshaw, 13, Jay Whitehead, 13, Callum Reveley, 14, Â Andrew Markham, 15 and Lida Abrie, 16.
This gala marked the beginning of the long course (50m) season with the COSASC swimmers putting in some tremendous performances throughout the weekend, competing against top swimmers from around the region. The coming months will see a hectic long course competition schedule covering all levels from county through to international. Based on these results the club has every chance of representation to the highest level.
A selection of photographs from the weekend can be found … here.