Swimmers turn on style at championship finale
LOUGHBOROUGH Town Swimming Club had a brilliant end to the Leicestershire and Rutland County Championships 2023. Racing at Braunston Leisure Centre, the Club won over 30 medals in the final three days of competition.
Events started on Friday with the longest event in the pool, the 1500m freestyle. Elizabeth Palfrey (15 yrs age group) won gold with her sister, Francesca, also taking first place in the 16 years and over age group. Both won medals in the 400m freestyle – Elizabeth gold and Francesca silver and both placed in second place in the 100m butterfly. Elizabeth also won silver in the 200m freestyle.
In the boys’ 800m freestyle, James Lake won silver in the 16 yrs & over age group. Harrison Bywater placed fifth, Matthew Longman seventh and Joshua Dowdall eighth in the same age group. Finn Gibson won both the Junior title and the 15 years age group and Felix Jarvis was seventh (13 years).
In the 16 years and over age group, Ryan Katra added to his victory in the 200m breaststroke last week by winning gold in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke. Alfie Molloy also made the finals of both events placing fifth in the 50m event. Finn Reed finished seventh in the 100m event and Ben Hobbs, 8th in the 50m breaststroke. Thomas Macmanard won bronze in the 50m backstroke with Jack Goldfinch finishing in seventh place in the same event.
In the 200m Individual Medley, James Lake placed second, Thomas - fifth, and Jack – seventh. For the women’s 16 yrs and over, Sarah Davidson won the 100m butterfly and Ella Taylor placed fourth in both the 100m Individual Medley and 400m freestyle.
Ellis Bancroft and Finn Gibson, 15 years age group, also won medals in the breaststroke events. Finn won gold and the Junior championship in both the 50m and 100m, with Ellis placing second in both races. Jacob Blount also made the final of the 50m event finishing in 6th place. Finn also won the 200m Individual Medley and 50m backstroke. Lucy Snaith placed fourth in the 200m breaststroke and sixth in the 100m IM and 200m freestyle. Daisy Snewin was fourth in the 200m freestyle. William Campbell placed fourth in the 50m backstroke.
For the 14 yrs category, Darell Yeoh won bronze in the 50m breaststroke and finished fourth in the 100m event. He also placed fifth in the 50m backstroke and sixth in the 200m IM. Olly Lockton was fifth in the 50m breaststroke. Catherine Yates (13 years) won bronze medals in the 200m freestyle and 100m Individual Medley. She was also fourth in the 200m IM and sixth in the 400m freestyle. Millie
Goldfinch placed fifth in the 100m IM.
Twelve-year-old Seth Gardner had another great weekend of racing, winning the 50m and 100m breaststroke, 50m backstroke and 200m Individual Medley. Cora Buxton (11) finished fifth in the 100m Individual Medley. Kevin Varga (10 years) won silver in the 50m & 100m breaststroke and bronze in the 200m Individual Medley and 50m backstroke. Ollie Haggerty placed seventh in the 100m breaststroke and Olly Perrins was fifth in the 50m backstroke. Kaiya Lockton was seventh in the 200m breaststroke.
Other swimmers representing Loughborough Town this weekend were: Jessica Smith, Leo Moechel, Oli Pacholec, Jack Llewellyn, Niamh Muddimer, Eva Hopper, Katherine Fletcher, Henry Scully-Proud, Erin Harvey, Lois Buxton, Aryan Ankolekar, Ellie Poulton-Burbank, Izzy Cooper, Jayman Lau, Reuben Taylor, Briana McDaid and Ivanka Berest.