Photo Caption: Monty Salmon, Edward Bewes, Brendon McGlynn, Barnaby Turner and Jude Prichard enjoying the Development Meet at Leys Pool
Swimmers from the City of Oxford Swimming Club were joined at Leys Pool on Sunday 23rd April by swimmers from Abingdon Vale, Didcot Barramundi, 4 Shires, Wantage and Witney for a fun evening of competition in the sixth Development Meet of the season. Participants competed against other young swimmers: some were swimming competitively for the first time whilst others were trying to improve on their own previous performances.
There was an electric atmosphere as swimmers achieved a plethora of personal best times and spurred on their fellow club mates. ‘Emoji-themed’ prizes were awarded for heat winners as well as to swimmers who showed great improvement throughout the field. Personal goals were met at all levels of the competition with many of Oxford’s swimmers hitting the top spot. First placed male swimmers included Barnaby Turner (pictured with some of his friends) who was the fastest 9 year old in the 100m breaststroke. As well as enjoying the competitive side of the day he said that it is a great time to “make new friends”.
Other Oxford boys who achieved first place in their age categories included 10 year old Matthew Critchley who was first in both the 200m freestyle and 50m backstroke, 11 year old Kayden Sillah in 200m free and 100m breaststroke and Logan Bryan in the 13 year old 50m backstroke and 100m breaststroke. Andrew Taylor and Stan Prichard were also first past the post in the 12 year old and 13 year old 200m freestyle events. Christopher Skelton took first in the 11 year old backstroke as well as second spot in the gruelling 200m fly behind Oliver Conway.
The Oxford girls also shone with fast times and exciting competition in all events. First place swimmers included Tilly Boyns and Rosie Hilton-Dew in the 10 and 12 year old 200m backstroke events, Zara Porter in the 100m fly, Zofia Conway in the 8 year old 50m breaststroke and Ellen Tranter in the 50m breaststroke for 12 year olds. In the 100m freestyle events Eleni Ioannou (9), Olivia Watkiss (13) and Hannah Austen (14) all reached the top place for their age. Ellen Bagley achieved the triple being the fastest 11 year old in the 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 50m fly, whilst Pearl Sophastienphong was the fastest 9 year old in the 50m fly, 100m fly and 50m breaststroke.
Thanks, as always, go to the coaches and volunteers who enabled the event to run smoothly. Credit should also be given to all our swimmers, and those from other clubs, who not only rejoiced in their own victories but also celebrated, encouraged and cheered on others, resulting in a highly enjoyable and successful evening.
Full results available on the COSC website.