Sunderland kicked off the new swimming season with a healthy haul of 57 medals – 14 gold, 24 silver and 19 gold. This gala provided a great opportunity for swimmers to gain experience of qualifying heats and finals. It was very encouraging to see many Sunderland swimmers reaching finals and improving upon their qualifying times in the finals.
The younger swimmers had a great weekend with the nine year olds winning 14 medals.  Ayumi Faulds and Luke McGee each won a hat trick of gold medals. Ayumi finished first in the 200 I/M, 200m backstroke and 200m freestyle while Luke finished in the number one spot in the 50m and 200m backstroke and the 200m freestyle. Luke won a further three medals: silver in the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle and bonze in the 50m breaststroke completing a successful weekend. Louie Bradley-Godfrey won gold in the 50m breaststroke and finished third in the 50m backstroke while Yuki Faulds won two silver medals in the 200 I/M and 200m freestyle.  Making her debut in competitive swimming, Helena Wyness, won a bronze medal in the 200m backstroke and just missed out on a medal in the 200m freestyle, finishing fourth.
Ten year old Fran Procter won an impressive six medals. He finished first in the 100m breaststroke and 200m freestyle, second in the 50m and 200m breaststroke and 100m freestyle and third in the 50m freestyle. Layla Trueman, 10, won silver medals in the 200m I/M and 400m freestyle and finished third in the 200m backstroke. Elyssa Palmer and Lorenzo Corsi won a bronze medal each with Elyssa finishing third in the 400m freestyle and Lorenzo finishing third in the 200m freestyle.
Joshua Convery, Emma Corbett-Skedd and Imogen Nicholls, all age 11, won two medals each. Joshua, won a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke and a bronze in the 100m breaststroke while Emma finished second in the 100m backstroke and 200m breaststroke. Imogen took home bronze medals from the 100m backstroke and 100m breaststroke.
In the twelve year age group, Lara Greggs, Jack Marshall, Caitlin Cambrook, Ilaisa Redda, Grace Abbott and Madeleine Smith all finished the weekend with medals. Lara had a great weekend winning six medals: gold in the 100m freestyle, silver in the 50m freestyle, 100m and 200m backstroke events and completed her medal tally with bronze medals in the 50m breaststroke and 200 I/M. Jack finished second in the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle events. Caitlin and Ilaisa won a silver and bronze medal each, Caitlin finishing second in the 50m butterfly and third in the 50m freestyle and Ilaisa finishing second in the 400m I/M and third in the 100m butterfly. Grace won a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke and Madeleine finished in third place in the 400m freestyle.
Thirteen year olds Maria Birchall and Vanessa Rubio and Ana Lazar, 14, completed the medals for the girls. Maria came first in the 400 I/M and was also third in the 50m butterfly. Vanessa won a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle and Ana finished second in the 200m butterfly.
Completing the medal table were the older boys. Adam Boxall, 14, took home two bronze medals, finishing third in the 200m backstroke and 400 I/M. Callum Walker, 16, came first in the 200m breaststroke and Jay Manners, 16, finished second in the 200m backstroke and 400m I/M events. Joshua Campbell, 18, won two gold medals and a silver medal in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke respectively.
The results from this gala, the first of the new competitive season, were excellent and it was especially pleasing to see the club’s youngest swimmers competing and coming away with medals. A great weekend of competition.