It's a 'well done' all round for swimmers (From Penarth Times)

It's a 'well done' all round for swimmers

FOLLOWING on from the recent success of individual swimmers at the Gloucester Open Swim Meet, Penarth played host to Brecon Swimming Club at the Cogan Leisure Centre for a friendly inter-club gala.

The result - a win by 33 points - earned an enormous "well done" to every swimmer who competed in this extremely close gala.

The winning result really is a reflection of the hard work that swimmers, teachers and coaches have put in, particularly in recent times.

Penarth swimmers swam 23 personal best times during the course of the evening.

The highlight of the evening, however, was the considerable contribution made by the club's young and new first time competitors like Matthew Whitfield and Millie Baston.

Congratulations to her brothers Alex and Ben, all of whom swam admirably, and to Alice, Emma and Olivia Davies, all of whom won their respective events, as did Josh Flynn who swam well to record his first ever gala win in the 50 metres butterfly event.

The family combinations of Ben, Charlotte and Sophie Preece, Iestyn and Stephan Penry-Williams, Calum, Jemma and Lauren Hughes, Sam and Jessica Clements and Dominic and Benedict Jackson all swam well and gained valuable competition experience.

Tom Williams won both his 10 and under events, and it was pleasing to see a return to form as Rachel Lane reduced her best personal best time by almost two seconds during her 100-metre butterfly event, during what proved to be a very satisfying and enjoyable afternoon.

Cardiff and Vale Open Sprint Meet

Thirteen Penarth swimmers gained experience competing at a higher level in this short course sprint gala at Cogan, achieving a further 15 personal best times.

Competition was of a high standard, and congratulations go to Megan Davies for achieving an exceptional swim in her breaststroke event.

Hannah Bates, Sam Clements, Claire Lane and Tim Miller did particularly well in making finals in their butterfly, freestyle and backstroke swims, receiving medals for third, fourth and fifth places in their respective events.

Ben Preece (twice) and Rachel Lane just missed out on medals with seventh places in the 100 metres individual medley and 50 metres breaststroke and 50 metres butterfly.

Many thanks to the Pen-arth "senior" swimmers, all had good swims and supported the juniors at poolside.