Bristol Henleaze Swimming Club

The Gloucester County Championships are over for another year. Firstly I would like to say congratulations to all swimmers who qualified and took part. There were 191 swims in all and a very creditable 159 PB’s. The swimmers as always behaved impeccably and were often to be seen at the end of the lane cheering on their team mates.

Some of our Medal Winners 2011

In the 9 year girls age group Alysia Maestri swam outstandingly to win five gold medals and one silver medal; she also set two age group best times in the 50m and 200m breaststroke. Alysia has had a great blocks and an excellent start to her competitive swimming career. Alysia celebrated her ninth birthday during the blocks so she was only 8 for the first events therefore quite some achievement. Oriana Munden did some excellent swims and gained three top 8 finishes and Grace Caple the third girl in this age group swam a PB in the 50m free.

In the 10 year girls age group a delighted Isobel Press won two top 8 medals. She was ably supported in this age group by Rhian Hughes (2 PB’s) and Lauren Millard (1 PB).

In the 11 year girls age group Jorji Longdon had an exceptional championship winning eight gold medals and one silver medal as well as four top 8 finishes. Jorji swims with great technique and always impresses with the effort she puts into each and every swim. She also achieved seven qualification times for the South West Regional Championships which take place in June. Also in this age group Ellen O’Regan continues to impress gaining two top 8 finishes and five PB’s. Rebecca Wheatcroft the third girl in this age group did a PB.

In the 12 years girls age group we saw some strong swimming from Charley Waters to win two top 8 medals and do five PB’s. Maddie Nairn continues to improve and had six PB’s including a 24 second PB in the 400m freestyle.

In the 13 year girls age group we have become used to exceptional swimming from Abi Bowring but it is difficult to find superlatives to describe the competition she has had. Her achievements speak for themselves – seventeen gold age group medals (a clean sweep), she qualified for twelve championship finals and won two silver and two bronze medals, twelve Regional qualifying times, top 13/under girl and four national qualifying times. Abi does all this in a very calm and mature way and is a credit to herself, her parents and our club. I am sure you will join me in wishing her well when she swims in the Regional and National championships. In the same age group Morgane Sha’ban swam extremely well to win three top 8 medals and do eight PB’s.

In the 14 year girls age group Jess Hicks is getting back to form and strong swimming netted her seven PB’s and she was absolutely delighted to achieve two Regional consideration times. Also in this age group Holly Tanner contiues her impressive progress and swam strongly for six excellent PB’s.

 In the 16 year girls age group Jane Garry had a great competition with two gold and four bronze medals as well as the trophy for the top breaststroker. Jane also achieved four Regional qualifying times and three Regional consideration times.

In the 18/over ladies age group our lady club captain Rebecca Allen chipped in with a silver medal.

In the 11 years boys age group Sam Marshall did some excellent swims to win a silver medal and a bronze medal as well as five top eight finishes and six PB’s In the same age group Barnaby Taylor swam strongly to win a silver medal and had three top 8 finishes and four PB’s. The third swimmer in this age group Sam Youngman swam very well to gain one top 8 finish and three PB’s.

In the 13 years boys age group Daniel Hibbard recorded a PB despite having missed training through illness.

In the 15 years boys age group Matt Eskell kept up his impressive progress with two bronze medals and no less that five Regional consideration times, well done Matt. Also in this age group Jono Dixon’s swimming has come on in leaps and bounds and posted three PB’s. The third member of this age group was Curtis O’Connor who also had three PB’s.

In the 16 years boys age group Oliver Eyre has struggled with illness and injury but nevertheless swam with great courage and commitment to win five silver medals and one bronze medal. Oliver also made two championship finals and had a 4^th and 5^th place. He also achieved four Regional qualification times and no less than eight PB’s. These are very fine achievements and we wish him well for the Regionals. The other swimmer in this age group was Eddy Wragg and it was a pleasure to see him win his first county medal in fact he won three bronze medals. Eddy had a very impressive eleven PB’s and three Regional consideration times.

In the 18/over mens age group our captain Guy Pearce has come back well from his injury last year to record four PB’s get a Regional qualifying time and two Regional consideration times. He was supported in this age group by Luke Porter who had the misfortune to damage his wrist early this year but nevertheless won a bronze medal and posted a Regional qualifying time.

The total medal count in the age group events was 54 – 32 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze which is excellent. Some of our senior swimmers moved on last year and it was great to see our younger swimmers doing so well.

I would like to say a big thank you to the coaches, teachers and helpers who looked after the swimmers so admirably and I would also thank the parents for their commitment and dedication to the swimmers which makes their achievements possible.

All results are on the BHSC database and the table below summarises the swimmer’s achievements.