The snow might have looked pretty, but it caused a major headache in the build up to the National Schools Swimming Finals at Gloucester on Saturday.

However, thanks to the incredible efforts of our swimmers, and the equally amazing efforts of their parents who got them to Gloucester (in the absence of a snow trapped bus), the team went on to become National Silver Medallists in the Under 14 Freestyle Relay. In the process, they knocked a staggering three seconds off the time that won them the Midlands title in November . Following that regional event only the fastest sixteen teams in the country are invited to attend the English Schools’ Finals, from an original entry of several hundred. At this level, a minor individual mistake can lead to team disqualification and so the pressure is immense and this was a truly great team effort.

Spurred on by their success in the freestyle, and against all the odds, the foursome went on to reach the Final of the Medley Relay as well. Going into Saturday’s final they were ranked 14 in this event…and they moved up to finish 8th overall, this time knocking 4 seconds off their regional winning time.

Their English Schools’ Silver medals for the Freestyle Relay are just reward for a great team effort and we congratulate the team:-

Charlotte Milligan (Captain)
Ella Thompson
Georgina McManus
Zoe Gidden

……and also Keeley Simpson who was our reserve. The last minute change in travel arrangements meant that Keeley was unable to travel with us, but she has played a key part in the build up to Saturday and we all missed her on Saturday.

Our thanks, too, go to their parents, without whom we would not have got to Gloucester In the first place; thank you.