Members of Stratford Sharks Swimming Club have been busy throughout the last month in various competitions collecting personal bests and medals along the way with one swimmer representing the County team.

  At the start of the month it was one of the club’s rising stars, 11 year old Lucy Castle, who represented Warwickshire in a Junior Inter County Gala against 5 other counties at Fenton Manor Leisure Centre, Stoke-on-Trent. Swimming the 50m Backstroke, an excellent performance saw Lucy take a well earned 2nd place. She also took her place in the 4 x 50 medley relay team who finished 4th.

  A squad of 23 swimmers took part in Rugby Swimming Club’s Peri Sprints. This event attracted over 300 entries from 18 clubs and consists of 50 metre sprints in Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Fly and a 100 metre Individual Medley. Multiple medal winners were 11 year old Ed Caswell who added to his growing reputation and medal collection by taking gold in Freestyle, Breaststroke & Individual Medley and silver in Backstroke. Not to be outdone, 11 year old Ellen Price matched Ed’s four medal collection by taking silver in the Freestyle and Backstroke and bronze in Fly and the Individual Medley. These two were ably supported by Josh Walker (13) who took 3 medals, silver in Individual Medley with bronze in Backstroke and Freestyle, Lucy Tame (12) took silver in Breaststroke & bronze in Freestyle, Grace Wright (17) silver in Fly and one of the clubs youngest competitors Elinor Bird (9) took a fantastic bronze in the Breaststroke.

  Importantly for the club and very pleasing for the coaching team in view of the relatively young and inexperienced members of the squad, was the overall 60% personal best success rate with a number of swimmers who whilst not winning medals on this occasion turned in 100% pb performances in a number of events, these included Olga Hall (9) and Megan Pashley (12) who both achieved this feat in 5 swims and Reiss Hemming (11) and Christopher Jennings (12) who both achieved 4 from 4.

  The club also participated in the Coventry & District relays against the other 6 member clubs of the Association at the International Pool in Coventry. In a tough competition the Girls 9 years team of Ysabelle Caswell, Annie Cox, Kathryn Lythgo and Olga Hall achieved fantastic silver medals in both the Freestyle and Medley Relays a feat matched by the Men’s Open team of Lawrie Mills, George Brear, Michael Ankrett and Joe Evans, the Boys 9 year Medley team of Oliver Quinn, Jonathan Furey, Gregor Kelling and Dan Jones gaining the bronze.