Halton swimmers make a splash before dashing off with the medals
AFTER three weeks of competition at the Cheshire Championships in Macclesfield there was no time for any rest this week as Halton’s swimmers were in action at the City of Liverpool Splash & Dash Gala held at Liverpool Aquatics Centre in Wavertree.
This event, taking part in the 50m pool, attracted a huge number of swimmers, hoping to obtain qualification times for the forthcoming North West Regional Championships in the 50m breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle and backstroke events.
Teammates 10-year-old Ben Clayton and 12-year-old Joshua Howard-Hughes both produced a clean sweep, winning each race in their age category and in doing so recorded new personal best times in each event.
Following just behind was nine-year-old Rhys Croasdale who won the 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, and 50m butterfly.
Rhys also claimed a silver medal in the 50m backstroke. All events produced new personal best times.
Nine-year-old Sam Hyland enjoyed his day producing two second-place finishes and a fourth place.
His silver medals came in the 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke. His fourth place was in the 50m backstroke.
This really was a great performance from Sam who was competing for the first time in a 50m pool.
Sophie Buckley and Bethany Howard-Hughes brought the medals home for the girls.
Sophie finished in first place in the 50m freestyle, second in the 50m backstroke and third in the 50m butterfly.
She also finished fourth in the 50m breaststroke. All events produced new personal best times.
Bethany claimed a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke in a new personal best time knocking more than three seconds off her previous best and also produced personal best times in the 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly.
Fourteen-year-old Sam Clayton won a silver medal in the 50m breaststroke in a new personal best time and also produced three more PBs in the 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly.
Outside the medals but still producing some great swims with new PB times were Sam Shurie, Lucy Harris, Libby Harrison, Emmie Brownlow, Leah Galligan, Ruby Pritchard, Jessica Connolly and Hannah Forsyth.