Payne captures gold in Larkfield haul of 20 medals

Swimming Triathlon

Larkfield Swimming club continued their successful run in the Medway Championships, collecting 20 medals.

Jacob Payne led the way with gold in the boys’ 11 years 50m butterfly in 38.90sec.

In the girls’ event Hannah Shibli was third and Amelia Allen sixth in a close final.

In the men’s open 100m breaststroke junior event, Dominic Percy narrowly missed gold but clinched a silver medal in 1min 16.55sec.

The 13 years 100m backstroke saw Owen Jenner clinch silver in 1.18.05, and in the girls’ event Mia Cotton took fourth in 1.17.28.

In the boys’ 10 years 50m freestyle, Jasper Nobes was third in 37.23 and Jack Brown sixth in 38.91.

Then with team-mates Payne and Rudy Strachan, the foursome stormed in to collect four silver medals.

Not to be outdone, the girls’ team of Amelia Allen, Caitlin Bell, Lyanna Gore and Hannah Shibli clinched four silver medals for overall second place too.

The final event of the evening was the boys’ 12 years 100m individual medley, with Larkfield having four of the six finalists.

After a thrilling race, all four Larkfield boys swam personal best times.

Oliver Moore captured gold in 1.18.96, Finley Courtier silver in 1.22.44, Dominic Traube was third in 1.22.90 and Andrew Gore finished fourth in 1.23.32. The third Maidstone Sprint Triathlon was held at Sutton Valence School last weekend, with competitiors ranging from 14 to 80-years-old. James Lane-Pitcher (Adalta CC) triumphed in 49min20sec, followed by Jonathan Pontin (Addiscombe CC) in 49.39 and Matt Finch in 50.39. Hannah Jordan (Tri London) won the ladies’ race in 57.33. She finished almost three minutes clear of Hilary Powell (Active Life Tri) in 1hr0min22sec and Larkfield AC’s Annie Rebindaine in 1: 00.32.

More than 450 competitors turned out for the Tonbridge Triathlon. Standard distance winner Gunther Zechmann completed the course in 2: 31.50, with Catherine Linney (7Oaks Tri) taking the women’s race in 2:47.19. Rob Parry won the sprint distance in 1:10.47, with Lizzy Brama the fastest female in 1: 23.19, both athletes from Crystal Palace. The race, organised by the Tonbridge Lions Club, raised more than £15,000 for charity.