West Norfolk swimmers make a splash at age group event

After the success of their team-mates in the Swim England East Region 2018 Long Course Championships, it was the turn of the younger members of West Norfolk Swimming Club to compete at regional level.

Eleven purple-hatted swimmers achieved the qualification times to compete in the East Region 2018 Age Group Championships at the Luton Aspire Sport Village during the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Although medals eluded them over the three days, they achieved personal best ever times (PB) in an incredible 67 of their 79 races - a hit rate of 85 per cent.

WNSC head coach Sarah Vanderloo said: "Although swimmers were not rewarded with medals for their efforts at Luton over another very hot bank holiday weekend, they should all be very proud of their achievements.

"The fact that so many personal best times were achieved demonstrates that they have been training well and building up to this top level competition.

"It’s not a time to rest on our laurels though; there is a lot to look forward to across the club and work to be done to build for the future.

"The Open Water Championships are looming ahead of us in July, and we have several swimmers who will compete in them.

"We will begin a programme of open water training for club members next weekend.

"Several of our swimmers also have the British and English Summer Championships to prepare for."

Astrid Hubbard (14yrs) achieved 10 PBs in her in 11 events, the 200m freestyle, 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke and the 200m and 400m individual medley.

Erica Charters (13yrs) scored a full house of PBs in her eight events, 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke and butterfly, and the 200m and 400m individual medley.

She was eighth in the final of the 200m butterfly.

Harry Sharpe (12yrs) finished in fifth place in the 1500m and 6th in the 400m freestyle events.

He racked up had eight PBs in nine events of the 100m, 200m breaststroke, 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 200m and 400m individual medley.

Harvey Isle (12yrs) set PBs in all of his five events, 100m & 200m backstroke, 200m butterfly and 200m and 400m individual medley, where he was sixth .

Kyle Ostil (11yrs) competed in six events, which included the 50m and 100m freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly.

He achieved double PBs in both heats and finals over 50m and 100m freestyle, finishing sixth in both.

Ostil was fifth in the final of the 50m butterfly.

Leah Bushell (12yrs) had two events, 50m and 100m backstroke and set PBs in both.

Leah Wightman (13yrs) achieved five PBs across the eight events she competed in.

These included the 50m butterfly, 100m, 200m freestyle, 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke and 200m and 400m individual medley yrs.

Wightman finished seventh in the 200 IM and eighth in the 200m backstroke.

Robert Addis (14yrs) notched up 11 PBs in his 12 events of the 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle, 50m, 100m, and 200m, breaststroke, 50m and 100m butterfly, 100m and 200m backstroke and 200m and 400m individual medley.

They included a double PB heat and PB final helping him to fifth in the 200m IM and sixth in the 400m freestyle.

Thomas Owen (13yrs) took to the pool for six events and achieved nine PBs in heats and finals.

He finished fourth in the 200m breaststroke and eighth in the 200m butterfly, with a brace of heat PB/final PB doubles.

His other events were the 50m and 100mbreaststroke, 100m freestyle and 200m and 400m individual medley.

Tobias Oglesby (14yrs) raced and set a PB in the 200m backstroke, while Tom Ball (14yrs) repeated the feat in the 100m freestyle.