Stratford Sharks sole representative at the Midlands Swimming Championships in Coventry recorded a new personal best in an impressive display. Josh Walker (13) maintained his proud record of qualifying in every year he has been eligible to do so, no mean feat considering the tough qualifying times that are set. Walker competed in the 200m & 400m freestyles recording a personal best in the latter.

  A group of five Sharks girls then competed at the Maxwell Swimming Club Open Meet in Aylesbury. Competing on just one day of the two day meet they had a total of 25 swims between them achieving 12 personal best times including 2 club records, performances which saw the bring home 2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.

  In the first session of the day Lucy Tame 6th, Kara Malins 7th and Caroline Ankrett 9th competed in the 13/14 age group 200m Individual Medley with Becky Tame 5th in the 15/16 age group. The 50m Breaststroke delivered the first medals of the day from Kathryn Lythgo and Becky Tame. Despite being one of the youngest in her 9/10 age group, Kathryn took an excellent first place in a new personal best time, Becky taking silver in the 15/16 age group. In the 13/14 age group Kara Malins set a new personal best to finish 5th ahead of Lucy Tame 10th and Caroline Ankrett 14th

  All the girls also took on the 50m Fly, Kathryn Lythgo continued her fantastic start to the day to take 6th in the 9/10’s, Caroline Ankrett 8th took the Sharks honours in the 13/14’s with Kara Malins 15th just pipping Lucy Tame 16th by a tenth of a second. Becky Tame unluckily just missed a medal finishing 4th in the 15/16 age group despite a new best time. Becky Tame then narrowly missed another medal in the15/16 100m Backstroke finishing 4th, and in the 13/14’s Lucy Tame finished 7th to Kara Malins 8th

  Moving on to the second session of the day, the in form Kathryn Lythgo took the gold medal in the 200m Freestyle for 9/10 year olds in a new age group club record. Lucy Tame improved her best time to finish 6th in the 13/14’s with Becky Tame 5th in the 15/16’s. Kathryn Lythgo set her second age group club record in the 100m Breaststroke but in a strong field it was only good enough for 5th on this occasion. The other medallist in this event was Becky Tame who took the bronze medal in the 15/16 age group, Kara Malins was 7th in the 13/14’s.

  Two of the 13/14 age group girls contested the 100m Fly both setting new personal best times, Lucy Tame taking an excellent 3rd place with Kara Malins 5th.