Town swimmers strike gold at championships
LOUGHBOROUGH Town Swim club is celebrating after winning a hatful of medals, including seven golds, at the start of the Leicestershire & Rutland County Swimming Championships in Leicester.
The boys in the 15 years age group showed their strength and depth across all strokes and distances and were led by James Lake who put in an impressive display in the 400m Individual Medley to take gold in the age group and win the Junior Championship. James also finished in second place in the 200m & 400m freestyle and won the 50m butterfly.
Thomas Macmanard was also Junior Champion in the 100m backstroke and placed 5th in the 50m & 100m freestyle. Finn Reed took silver in the 15 years 1500m freestyle and 100m freestyle and bronze in the 400m freestyle, 400m Individual Medley and 200m freestyle. Finn also placed 4th in the 50m butterfly and 6th in the 50m freestyle. Alfie Molloy was third in the 50m freestyle and 4th in the 100m freestyle and 400m Individual Medley.
Seth Gardner, swimming in his first County Championships, won gold in the 10/11 years 100m backstroke, silver in the 100m & 200m freestyle and bronze in the 50m freestyle.
In the 14 years age group, Finlay Gibson won gold in the 400m Individual Medley, silver in the 100m backstroke, 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly & 100m freestyle and bronze in the 50m & 100m freestyle.
Sean McCann, swimming in the 16 years and over category, won gold in the 100m and 1500m freestyle. Charles Hepworth won bronze in the 50m butterfly.
Elizabeth Palfrey won gold in the 100m backstroke for the 14 years age group and placed third in the Junior Championship (15 years and under). Elizabeth also won silver in the 800m freestyle (3rd Junior) and 200m butterfly (3rd Junior).
Francesca Palfrey won bronze in the 16 years and over 200m butterfly and Abbie Ruddle made it a hattrick of medals in this event by winning the silver. Abbie also won silver in the 16 years and over 50m breaststroke and placed 5th in both the 100m breaststroke and backstroke.
Other top 8 finishers in the 16 years and over age group were: 1500M freestyle: Jasper Ley-Sneyd 4th and Justin Palfrey 5th. 800m freestyle: Francesca Palfrey 6th and Eleanor Taylor, 8th. Erin Harvey 7th in the 50m breaststroke and in the 100m breaststroke Eleanor Taylor finished in 8th. Willem Muddimer 8th in 50m freestyle and butterfly. Ben Hobbs – 200m freestyle - 5th. Jack Goldfinch – 4th in the 400m freestyle and 400m Individual Medley and 6th in the 100m backstroke. Olivier Pacholec – 6th in the 400m freestyle.
In the 15 years age group: Fred Salcedo was 8th in the 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle. Josh Dowdall placed 7th in the 100m backstroke and Reuben Taylor finished 5th. Henry Scully-Proud was 7th in the 50m butterfly and Harrison Bywater 5th in the 200m freestyle and 7th in the 50m freestyle. Matthew Longman 7th in the 400m freestyle. Niamh Muddimer was 7th in the 50m breaststroke.
In the 100m backstroke Millie Goldfinch placed 4th (12 yrs), Eva Hopper – 7th (13 yrs) Daisy Snewin - 5th (14 years). Olly Lockton – 6th (12 yrs 100m back) and Ellis Bancroft was 6th in the 50m freestyle (14 yrs)
LTSC had 57 qualifiers for the County Championships this year. Other swimmers racing this weekend were: Felix Jarvis, Ruby Rhodes, Isabella Cooper, Lucy Snaith, Fitz Fantham, Matilda Don, Olly Swaine, Lois Buxton, George Larke, Jack Ruddle, Leo Moechel, Jacob Blount, William Campbell, Maia Ruiz-Salfity, Ellie Poulton-Burbank and Ella Fairey.