Fantastic start to season for Loughborough Town
LOUGHBOROUGH Town Swimming Club had a great start to the new swimming season, travelling to Ponds Forge to take part in the Sheffield City Open Meet.
A squad of 32 swimmers attended this meet, winning 40 medals (14 gold, 15 silver and 11 bronze) and securing 80 personal best times - an impressive display so soon after the summer holidays.
After her success at Summer Nationals where she finished in 14th place in the 50m breaststroke, Mia Larke swam to victory in the 50m & 100m breaststroke and 50m & 100m freestyle. Other gold medal swimmers were Harrison Cook 100m backstroke, Abbie Ruddle - 50m butterfly and 50m & 100m backstroke, Josh Ley-Sneyd - 50m & 100m breaststroke, Elizabeth Palfrey - 100m freestyle and 50m backstroke, James Lake - 100m butterfly and Willem Muddimer - 100m Freestyle.
Finn Gibson finished second in the 100m breaststroke as did Jasper Ley-Sneyd and Navin Sae-Sue. In the 50m freestyle Niamh Muddimer, Leo Moechel, Willem and Abbie all won silver medals. Alexa Hargrave came second in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke. Willem also gained silver in the 50m & 100m butterfly. Amelie McCann and Harrison both placed second in the 50m backstroke and Abbie finished in the same position in the 100m butterfly. Eva Hopper won silver in the 100m backstroke.
Bronze medals were won by: Harrison: 50m & 100m freestyle, Leo - 50m backstroke, Will Stone, Elizabeth and Francesca Palfrey - 100m butterfly, Niamh and Navin: 50m breaststroke and James - 50m Butterfly & 50m breaststroke and Amelie: 50m freestyle. Other swimmers joining the team, many of whom achieved personal best times in multiple swims were: Lois Buxton, Phoebe Tew, Laura Beresford, Lisa Kufleitner, Amelia Johnston, Sophie Moechel, Ben Smith, Alfie Smith, Beau Smith, Alfie Molloy, Finn Reed, Toby James, Hattie Smith, Ella Fairey and George Larke.
Loughborough Town Swimmers have been busy throughout the summer months taking part in open water events around the country. Francesca Palfrey swam the length of Lake Coniston (5.25 miles) and was joint first female to finish and joint first Junior.
She also took part in a 3.8km swim in the Cotswold Water Park and again was first placed junior. Younger sister, Elizabeth, 11, also took part, swimming in the 1.5km race finishing in second place overall. Hattie Smith was overall female winner in the Big Swim Nottingham 1.5km.
Competing in various age groups, Loughborough Town’s seven strong Masters’ squad bagged six medals at the Masters’ National Open Water Swimming Championships at Nene Park. Gold went to Lucy Sharp (18) in the 3k event, whilst dad Stuart picked up a bronze. Elaine Seager won gold in the 3k, Nick White a bronze with Felix Ng placing fourth in his age group. In the 2k new open water swim convert Steve Conway won bronze, matched by Rachel Poynton also in the 2k.