Medals galore as Loughborough Town swimmers produce great display at Sheffield competition

LOUGHBOROUGH Town Swimming Club took a small team of swimmers to the Glyn Mettam Memorial Open Meet in Sheffield and the team achieved nine first places, five second places, seven third places and 18 medals were won for finishing in places 4th-6th.

Abbie Ruddle led the way, swimming in six races in the 14yrs age group and securing top three positions in all six events - 1st in the 200m Individual Medley (IM) and 100m breaststroke, 2nd 50m freestyle & 50m butterfly, and 3rd in the 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke.

Elizabeth Palfrey (9yrs) also achieved top three positions in all of her events. She won the 100m and 50m backstroke, secured silver in the 50m freestyle and bronze in the 100m freestyle. Lily Chamberlain was also third in the 100m backstroke in this age group and Niamh Muddimer third in the 50m freestyle, fourth in the 50m backstroke and sixth in the 100m breaststroke. In the boy’s events, Finn Gibson took gold in the 50m breaststroke and he also finished fifth in the 50m freestyle and sixth in the 100m event.

James Lake struck gold in the 10yrs 50m Butterfly and was also fifth in the 100m freestyle, sixth in the 200m Individual Medley and 100m breaststroke. In the same age group Thomas Macmanard was awarded Speeding Tickets (for swimming too fast!) in the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke and was also fourth in the 200m IM.

Thomas Chamberlain finished second in the 12 yrs 50m backstroke and Hattie Smith secured bronze in the 100m backstroke (13yrs) and was sixth in the 50m event.

Lucy Sharp (15) finished runner up in the 100m freestyle but then went one better to win the 50m event. Lucy was also third in the 50m butterfly and fifth in the 200m IM. Eduarda Ponticelli took gold in both the 50m and 100m backstroke (15yrs+) and was also sixth in the 50m fly.

Medal winners for finishing 4th-6th were: Francesca Palfrey (5th - 200m Individual Medley), Adelaide Biggs (4th - 50m & 100m backstroke, 6th - 100m freestyle), Willem Muddimer (4th - 50 breaststroke and 100m freestyle and 6th in 50m butterfly) and Toby James (4th - 100m butterfly).

The other members that made up the LTSC team, who all achieved personal best times were: Imogen Sherman, Alfie Smith and Ben Smith.