Soundwell Swimming Club

Established in 1962

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Western County Youth/Senior Championships - Press Release

Thirteen swimmers from twenty qualifiers travelled to Plymouth from Soundwell Swimming Club for the ASA South West Youth Championships on May 3-5th. The three days of intense swimming competition is the culminating championships meet in the South West of England.

Head coach Matt Puddy commented; ‘’The clubs swimmers swam aggressively and accomplished astonishing personal best times in most of their events.’’

To qualify for the South West Championships is a remarkable feat in itself. Fifteen year olds Maddie Barnett and Rose Nicholson, plus Connor Laughey, aged seventeen, set new pb’s besides making the challenging cut. Connor just missed out on a National qualification time.

Soundwell Swimming Club qualified for a staggering thirty one finals over May bank holiday. Danny Pirret aged fifteen, Hannah Evans and James Tomlinson aged sixteen and Luke Height aged seventeen, swam determined races to finish inside the top ten. Club captain Georgia Pirret, aged seventeen, and 2013 National qualifier Evie Reed, aged fifteen, both achieved personal best times over the weekend. Georgia made all three backstroke finals and Evie finished fourth in her preferred 100m butterfly.

The South Gloucestershire team were delighted when sixteen year old Ben Thompson became the clubs fifth National qualifier. He achieved both his 100m and 200m butterfly times. Taking a Bronze medal in the latter. Eighteen year old Bethan Tomlinson also bagged herself a second NQT when she finished 100m freestyle in 59.42. Sprint specialist Joe Parker brought home two silver medals in the 50m freestyle and butterfly. Joe also finished fifth in the fifteen year old boys 100m freestyle.

Fifteen year old England Talent swimmer Will Cole broke the ASA South West Junior 100m freestyle record. Will posted a life time best of 52.28 at the Youth Championships to break Sam Straughan's (Plymouth Leander) 2009 record, this makes him the fastest boy in South West history. Will went on to win eight Gold medals over the course of the weekend.

Soundwell Swimming Club also took part in two relay events. Both the girls and the boys performed exceptionally well and beat many larger, elite squads. Hopes are high for National relay qualification (positions here).

Julian Lewis, Chairman of the club said; ‘’Our results reflect the hard work and dedication of our swimmers and coaching team, we have established ourselves as a strong club in the South West. I look forward to continued success for Matt and his team.’’



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