TWENTY swimmers from Wyre Forest Swimming Club headed down to Gloucester GL1 pool to compete in the Southwold Spring meet on the weekend of 27/28 May 2017.

The gala featured 50m, 100m and 200m events and was an level 3 ASA licensed meet.

The team of swimmers, aged 10 to 17, were led by club captains Rosie Lane (16) and Dylan Smith (17) Overall the team came fifth out of 17 clubs. Swimmers swam a total of 133 races with 82 new personal best times recorded and 55 county championship 2018 qualifying swims. The team also recorded eight “speeding tickets” which are issued to swimmers who swim faster than the minimum entry times for the gala.

The club was well represented in the age group results by Alexandra Hayes winning the 11-year-old girls and Rosie Lane winning the 16-plus girls.

The club was also among the top three places with Lillie Grover achieving third in the 10-year-old girls, Emily Watkiss was second in the 14-year-old girls and Will Guest finished second in the 15-year-old boys.

Individually 11 swimmers won their age groups races: Rob Darbyshire (13 yrs 50m breaststroke), Erin Freer (11 yrs 200m butterfly), Lillie Grover (10 yrs 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 100m butterfly), Will Guest (15 yrs 100m breaststroke, 50m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke), Alexandra Hayes (11 yrs 200m breaststroke, 50m backstroke), Rosie Lane (16-plus years 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m IM), Maddison Moore (10 yrs 100m Backstroke), Dylan Smith (16+ yrs 200m freestyle), Lois Stevens (13 yrs 50m backstroke, 200m backstroke), Jeremy Summers (12 yrs 200m freestyle), Emily Watkiss (14 yrs 100m backstroke, 200m IM, 200m backstroke, 100m IM, 200m freestyle).

Also swimming and crucial to the team were: Lucy Connolly (12), Archie Darby-Duffield (10), Grace Darby-Duffield (13), Isabella Hoare (10), Charlotte Holford (13), Maisie Lane (13), Billy Moore (12), Poppy Stant (13) and Fraser Thompson (10).

Team managers organising the swimmers poolside were Sue Connolly, Lizz Stant and Donna Stevens and time recorders for the team were Hannah Grover, Emily Hoare and Richard Freer Poolside coach Dave McMahon said: “It was a great fun weekend and a very well organised gala, so well done to the Southwold Club organisers.

"Our swimmers were wonderful all weekend, supporting and cheering on their teammates from the pool ends when not competing themselves and contributed to a great atmosphere.

"The swimmers all responded well to advice post-race and improved technical aspects of their swimming over the two days.”