Squad making quite a splash!
SWIMMING
DERWENTSIDE swimmers splashed out on 12 medals at this year’s British Summer Championships in Glasgow and Swim England Summer Nationals in Sheffield.
The Stanley-based club club had its highest number of swimmers qualify for a record number of events over the two weeks of competition.
In Glasgow they swam in 32 events, including relays which converted into 14 finals.
Lewis Maxwell contested the 50, 100 and metres backstroke, 50 and 100 metres butterfly and 200 individual medley.
Madison Peveler took part in the 50, 100 and 200 metres backstroke and Joel O’Halleron in the 200 metres breaststroke.
Oliver O’Halleron made the 200 metres individual medley and 200 metres backstroke.
Jenna Dougal was in the 100 breaststroke while Patrik Bajrami, Adam Strickland, Joshua Savage and Lewis Maxwell made up the 14-16 free relay squad - making it through to the final where they finished eighth.
Thomas Maskell and Jay Manners also competed in Scotland – their first time at the championships.
By the end of the first week of competition the club had won a gold medal through Maxwell in the 100 metres backstroke and two silvers for Peveler in the 50 and 100 metres backstroke - her first British Summer Championships.
The team then travelled to Sheffield, where they again competed in a huge number of events.
With first-timers Morgan Swirles and Mariella Bibzimou-Butler joining up with the team in South Yorkshire, the club had another great week - making finals in 15 of the 26 events. The medal haul was impressive and included gold for Joel O’Halleron in the 50 and 100 metres breaststroke.
Maxwell struck gold in the 400 metres freestyle and silver in the 200 free while Strickland won the 100 metres freestyle - his first medal at a national meet.
Maskell celebrated gold in the 200 metres backstroke and bronze in the 50 metres backstroke at his first national meet.
Peveler secured silver in the 100 metres freestyle and Aaron Beckford bronze in the 50 metres backstroke.
Derwentside ASC’s Head Performance Coach Paul Woodley said: “I thought our national performances were fantastic.
“The number of younger swimmers qualifying and the number of new swimmers competing at a national level was very exciting.
“The swimmers thoroughly deserved their success after the commitment and hard work shown throughout the season.
“We had a high number of swimmers achieve season’s bests and personal best times on their way to making finals and winning medals.”