Seventeen swimmers from City of Sunderland’s swimming club, took part in their first gala of the new season at Middlesbrough’s Neptune Centre. This Level 2 meet was well attended and provided some excellent competition for our swimmers. The club came home with three silver and eight bronze medals.
Thirteen year old Elizabeth Clements won a silver medal in the 400 I/M, setting a new PB of more than seven seconds and achieving a Scottish National qualifying time. Showing her skills in the I/M event, Elizabeth also won a bronze medal in the 200m event.
Representing the club for the first time, sixteen year old Emma Cassell won a silver medal and a bronze medal. Emma finished second in the 200m butterfly event and was third in the 200m backstroke event in a new PB. Emma also qualified for the final of the 50m freestyle, finishing 5th.
J.J. Robins, thirteen, on a silver medal in the 200m butterfly event and just missed out on another medal, finishing 4th in the 400 I/M with a new PB.
Winning six bronze medals between them were Amy Henshaw, fifteen, Joseph Pomfret, fourteen and Ana Lazar, Thirteen. Amy won a hat trick of medals, finishing third in the 400m freestyle, 400m I/M and 200m butterfly and set PBs in the 200 I/M, 100m and 200m backstroke and 200m freestyle events. Joseph came third in the 400m freestyle and 200m butterfly events, setting short course PBs in both events, while Ana finished 3rd in the 200m butterfly and set new PBs in all six of her events.
Adam Boxall, thirteen, recorded a fine swim in the 100m backstroke to finish in fourth place and achieving his first regional qualifying time. On good form throughout the weekend, Adam set new PBs in all his events. Eleven year old Lara Greggs also had an excellent weekend of competition setting PBs in each of her 8 events and finishing 4th in the 200 I/M and 5th in the 100m breaststroke.
Seventeen year olds Kieran Peart and Jack Tallentire both qualified for the final of the 50m freestyle event, finishing in 4th and 7th places respectively. Jay Manners, fifteen swam the 50m freestyle in under 30 seconds for the first time and significantly lowered his 400 I/M time.
Lydia Matterson, eleven, making her debut for the club, finished in 10th place in the 200m backstroke event. Also competing: Andrew Markham, sixteen, Lauren Exley and Matthew Phillips, fourteen, and thirteen year old Alisha Ballantine all of whom put in some solid swims, achieving new PBs.
This gala was an excellent opportunity for Sunderland’s swimmers to get back into racing mode. All swam well and enjoyed the opportunity to race again. There were many pleasing performances which can only suggest an excellent season ahead.