City of Sunderland swimmers had a busy weekend of competition at the Wood Close Leisure Centre, Bishop Aukland, where they took part in the Wear Valley Guy Fawkes Meet. Sunderland sent a squad of 25 swimmers who won 41 medals, 14 gold, 12 silver and 15 bronze medals. The age groups were based on age at the 31st December.
Winning five gold, two silver and a bronze medal, Adam Boxall, 15, topped the medal table. Adam finished first in the 400 I/M and 400m freestyle, 100m and 200m backstroke and the 100 I/M, second in the 100m and 200m freestyle and was third in the 200 I/M. Adam achieved new personal best (PB)s in the 100 and 400 I/M events.
Caitlin Cambrook, 12, was nearly as successful, winning four gold medals and two bronze medals and setting new PBs in seven events. Caitlin finished first in the 100 I/M, 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly, 100 I/M and 400 I/M and was third in the 100m and 400m freestyle events.
Vanessa Rubio and Lara Greggs, proved to be a dominant force in the 13 year old group, winning 12 medals between them. Vanessa, was in brilliant form, winning eight medals and setting new PBs in each while Lara won four medals and achieved four PBs. Vanessa won gold in the 100m freestyle, was second in the 50m and 200m freestyle and 100 I/M and third in the 400m freestyle, 400m I/M, 50m butterfly and 200m breaststroke events. Lara won gold in the 100 I/M, silver in the 400m freestyle and I/M events and bronze in the 100m freestyle.
The remaining gold medals went to J.J. Robbins, 14, Maria Birchall, 14 and Madeleine Smith, 12. J.J. topped the podium with gold in the 200m backstroke and finished second in the 100m backstroke and won a hat trick of bronze medals in the 400 I/M, 200m breaststroke and 100m butterfly. Maria and Madeleine both won gold in the 200m butterfly for their respective age group and both achieved new PBs.
Ayumi Faulds, 10, continued her medal winning performances with a hat trick of silver medals in the 100 I/M, 50m butterfly and 200 I/M events. She also won a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle and set seven new PBs. Ilaisa Redda, 12, won silver in the 100m I/M and a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke and achieved PBs in five events.
Rhianna Ibbitson, 13 and Yuki Faulds each won a bronze medal. Rhianna finished third in the 200m butterfly and Yuki was third in the 50m butterfly setting four PBs and six PBs respectively.
Completing the squad were Grace Abbott, Tilly Abbott, Joshua Convery, Emma Corbett-Skedd, Sophie Graham, Ella Harrison, Molly Joyce, Jack Marshall, Elyssa Palmer, Fran Procter, Arran Robinson, Heather Robinson, Layla Trueman and Niamh Watson. All achieved top ten finishes or new PBs (or both!).
The squad delivered some great swims this weekend providing encouraging results early in the season.