The 58th English Schools Swimming Association National Relay Championships at the London Aquatics Centre saw Plymouth College retain its place as one of the country’s ‘big two’ as far as English schools swimming is concerned. The only school to win a medal in all twelve of the relay events, Plymouth College returned with 12 team medals to Millfield School’s 11. Third placed in the medal stakes was Tavistock’s, Mount Kelly, with a tally of 6.
Three National Records were also the order of the day for Plymouth College, its Senior Male teams providing two of these with truly dominant displays. In the 200m Medley Relay, Kregor Zirk, Federico Poggio, Darren Lim and Thomas Fannon were unstoppable whilst Myles Pillage replaced Poggio for a further win and record in the 200m Freestyle Relay. Sterling efforts from Ethan Harrington, Jalik Tavares, Freddy Clampett, Iestyn Cole, Alexander Raw and Freddie Cornwell in the heats gave Plymouth safe passage through to the finals on each occasion.
The third Record was to come courtesy of the Senior Female 200m Freestyle Relay, with Jessica Jackson, Laura Stephens, Anita M’Cartney and Emma England setting the new mark. A further gold medal in the Senior Female 200m Medley Relay was to come – Ella Bowkley and Savanna Best joining Stephens and Jackson on this occasion. Once again, top swims from Isobel Wild, Erin Riordan, Imogen McCalman and Victoria Russell in the heats gave Plymouth a solid foundation for the finals.
Silver medals were also aplenty – the Intermediate Male 200m Medley Relay securing the first through Charlie Boden, Morgan Newman, Sam Dailley and Eanna O’Hara, with Tai Roche-Walker and Oscar Brain replacing Newman and Boden for a further silver in the 200m Freestyle Relay equivalent. Valiant efforts from Thomas Beagley, Rolands Tarhanovs and Joseph Thompson ensured safe passage into the finals for both of these relays.
The Intermediate Female 200m Freestyle Relay of Lucy Armitage, Elle Ussi, Molly Barton and Tegan Drew were next up for silver, whilst their Medley Relay (Jazz Harbour joining the fold here) ensured bronze. Georgia Duff and Holly McWilliam were also on hand to ably help the relays through the heat stages.
Silver was also the order of the day for the Junior Female 200m Medley Relay with Gerda Vasilauskaite, Grace Poynter, Lola Oke and Duru Tanir claiming this second spot. Earlier, their 200m Freestyle Relay (with Lana Broekhoven getting in on the action) had ensured bronze, with Angel Davenport assisting with a fine performance in the heats.
A silver medal for the Junior Boys 200m Freestyle Relay – Louis Edwards-Pratt, Odhran O’Hara, Benjamin Miller and Connor Robinson – was well received, as was their bronze in the 200m Medley Relay, Salvador Gordo joining the action on this occasion. Hubert Gdaniec was also a valuable asset to these teams during the heats stages.
Ambitious swimmers aged 11-18 years looking to join Plymouth College’s world-renowned swimming programme for September 2016 can make initial enquires via www.plymouthcollege.com
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