Many congratulations to all of the 26 Wear Valley swimmers who competed recently at their home ‘May Meet’ at Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre, Bishop Auckland over the weekend of 18/19 May. Lots of medals were won and some huge personal bests (pbs) obtained. Swimmers from 10 other clubs also took part including as far as Harrogate, Oswestry and Richmondale.
From the Junior and Dolphin squads Adam Readman achieved a bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke. Annemarie Kelley took 16 seconds off her 50m butterfly (fly) entry time and also swam some other pbs.
Beatrice Forsyth won a bronze medal in the 100m Individual Medley (IM) and also took 30 seconds off her entry time for this event. She also took 17 seconds off her 50m freestyle (free) entry time. Ella Sowerby took 9 seconds off her 200m IM. Holly Roe swam 3 second pbs in both her 50m breaststroke and 50m fly events. Isobel Micklethwait won bronze medals in the 50m breast and 100m free. Joseph Brown swam pbs in the 50m fly and 50 m breaststroke.
Katie Brooks-Shea swam a pb in the 100m IM. Kieran Baker took 7 seconds off his 50m fly entry time, 10 seconds off his 100m backstroke (back), together with other pbs. Lauren Flint gained pbs in each of her 4 events notably taking 12 seconds off her 200m free entry time. Lydia Quinn swam a pb in the 50m back. Nicole Walker swam 7 pbs including taking 15 seconds off her 100m free entry time. Oliver Sommerville took4 seconds off his 50m back. Reece Cunnachie swam pbs in each of his 8 events including an 8 second pb in his 200m free. Roberta Antonescu also gained a pb in each of her 4 events including an 8 second pb on her 100m free time.
The club were also delighted with the Senior swimmers’ results. There was a clean sweep of gold, silver and bronze medals in the girls 14 year category for the 200m IM and 100m back. Thomas Power also won lots of medals including golds in the 200m back and 100m breaststroke. Ryan Baker won a bronze in the 50m breaststroke. Owen Potter won bronze medals in the 50m breaststroke and 50m fly and took 11 seconds off his 100m IM time. Nic Cooper was very pleased with his 50m fly and 50m free times. Lucy Randall took 7 seconds off her 100m IM time. Joseph Dobson won lots of medals and gained many pbs including golds in the 100m back and 200m IM. Jessica Maughan also gained lots of pbs and medals including gold medals for the 100m and 200m breaststroke. James Holliday won a bronze in the 50m breaststroke and a fabulous pb in his 100m IM, taking off 7 seconds. Emily Whitton won her first ever gold medal in the 200m back taking 8 seconds off her entry time together with lots of other medals and pbs. Emily Power also achieved her first ever gold swimming medal in the 100m IM, together with 2 silvers in other events. Annabel Cooper won 7 out of a possible 8 gold medals for each of her events.
The Wear Valley Amateur Swimming Club May Gala was a very successful meet in terms of medals won and pbs gained by the swimmers. The Committee would like to thank all coaches, lifeguards, helpers, WHCLC staff, officials, parents and spectators for their continued support and making this gala such a memorable, enjoyable and wonderful occasion.