Medalhaulat Taysidemeet
The medals were flowing for Strathallan School at the recent Tayside Schools Swimming Championships.
Perthshire students glided through the water of Dundee’s Olympia to bring home an impressive 36 pieces of silverware.
For swim coach at Strathallan, Elaine Johnston, the medal haul provided proof that the programme in place at the school is having the required effect.
She said:“There were a lot of personal best swims and also a lot of different race tactics at the Tayside champs.
“At that level, it is good for the kids to be trying different things to see how it works.
“It was from 12 and under right through to upper six students so the success was for all age groups.
“There is a limit of two individual races and a relay so you hope that your top swimmers would medal. And that is generally what we did this year.
“There are kids who have been with us for two or three years who are steadily improving. There is evidence that the programme is working.
“We lost quite a few swimmers this year but there are other younger ones beginning to come through now.
“With another couple of years, there is the hope of getting them to district or Scottish squad level.”
Strathallan knows all about helping to produce swimmers who move on to shine at national level.
Olympian Duncan Scott is a former pupil and Perth’s Scott McLay, recently selected to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, also attended the school.
“I can’t do anything about who comes into the school,”Elaine explained to the PA.“The programme is there and clearly works.
“If there is someone who aspires to get to that elite level, the opportunities and facilities are at the school to help them.
“You want kids to come to the school because of the opportunities and facilities. We do everything to help them achieve their goals.
“Having had Duncan Scott and Scott McLay from the school definitely can inspire others.
“Duncan started school aged 12 as a wee boy and progressed to eventually getting to the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and then the Olympics in Rio.
“Other students can see that the programme worked and it worked for a very normal boy. He was dedicated and his goal was to get to that Olympics.
“Scott has now moved to Stirling Uni which is a different training programme. If he takes the opportunities that he has got then I don’t see why he couldn’t reach the same levels Duncan has.
“There are so many variables in swimming and everything needs to click together at the right time.
“If that happens, and you add in hard work, then there is no reason why Scott shouldn’t be successful.”
Medals: Abigail Queen - Gold 17/19 relay, Silver 200 freestyle, Bronze 100 fly. Sandy Aitken - Gold 17/19 relay. Grace Akinje - Silver 13/14 200 free. Dylan Sommerville - Gold 17/19 relay, Gold 100 free, Gold 200 IM. Jonathan Wong Bronze 17/19 relay, Silver 100 free, Bronze 200 IM. Oboe Chu - Gold 17/19 relay, Silver 200 free. Kalle Hoad - Gold 17/19 relay, Bronze 200 free. Campbell Hay - Bronze 17/19 relay, Silver 400 free. Calum Young - Bronze 17/19 relay. Cameron Taylor - Bronze 17/19 relay. Leah Smith, Tiffany Chow and Sheena McArthur - Gold 17/19 relay. Alexander English, Hamish Queen, Archie McMichael and Michael Akinje - Gold 12 and under relay. Donald Queen - Silver 15/16 relay, Gold 100 free, Silver 200 free. Adam Morrice, Oliver Spalding and James Lauder - Silver 15/16 relay. Dani Doherty, Sarah Kung, Imogen McMichael and Stephanie Craig - Bronze 15/16 relay.