Mr Castro (Head of Swimming)

Our talented Years 5 and 6 swimmers were back to competitive swimming on Tuesday 25th January at the Swimming Gala against Kimbolton School. This was the first time many of our junior swimmers have taken part in a formal swimming event.

Two teams of eight swimmers showed much enthusiasm throughout the entire event making lots of noise and cheering on their teammates. The teams raced a full school swimming program of events, starting with the 4 x 25m medley relay, then into the individual events the 25m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke, 25m Butterfly, 25m Freestyle and finally the 4 x 25 freestyle relay. Notable swims were from Eva Jackson (Year 5) in the U10 25m Freestyle and Olivia James (Year 6) in the U11 25m Backstroke, both produced some very fast times in their events. We are looking for a re-match later in the year.

Our swimmers were in action again this week competing in the Warwick 50s U12 and U13 event - a highlight in the school swimming calendar. Teams of four swimmers compete in events of 50 meters (two relays and the different individual discipline events). This is a very popular competition with schools travelling to Warwick from all over the country, which makes the standard very high. Jeanie Morris (Year 8) excelled in the 50m fly displaying a beautiful technique just being pipped to the gold medal.

Ellie McCutcheon (Year 8) swam a fantastic 50m Breaststroke in her first swimming gala for the school. Both teams rose to the challenge and the U13 managed to achieve 3rd place, just a single point behind 2nd place overall. The teams were made up of swimmers from Years 6, 7 and 8. The team: Megan Barnicoat (Year 6), Larissa Brown (Year 6), Olivia James (Year 6), Evie Isherwood (Year 7), Millie Peacock (Year 8), Charlie Duce (Year 8), Jeanie Morris (Year 8), Charlotte Proctor (Year 8) and Ellie McCutcheon (Year 8).

Our swimmers are also currently competing in the Bedfordshire County Championships, a full report will be shared with the whole community next week.