It was a busy day on Saturday 19th May, at Strode Road Recreation Centre as Clevedon Swimming Club hosted 3 events on the same day! The Club Championships 400m Freestyle and 200m Freestyle, a Primary Schools Relay competition and the annual Novice Gala were all fiercely competitive and a great day was had by all.

In the Club Championships, Steve Bowen set a new Championship Best Time in the 400m Free and Elena Ibal set new records in both the 200m Free Open age group and Under 16 age group.

Following the 400m Freestyle, the club welcomed 7 Primary Schools from Clevedon, Portishead and Nailsea with the aim of introducing competitive swimming to local youngsters. Sue Clinton, the nationally acclaimed volunteer, arranged the gala, the main event of which was a Freestyle mixed relay race for the prestigious Bailey Memorial Shield.

This was the 20th year the event has been staged and it was fitting that the Shield was won by St. Nicholas Chantry Primary School as they were the first ever winners of the Shield (whilst known as Highdale Junior School). Winning Squad menbers were; Matt Bray, Alistair Balcombe, Luke Maidment, Sam Knowlton, Ben Capern, Oliver Wilson, Emily Harden, Polly Tucker, Jamie Blease, Becci Garland and Natasha Hawley. All Saints Primary School came a close second and they were represented by; Guy Prideaux, George Doughty, Oliver Rides, William Mathias, Suzannah King, Susie Lambert, Elizabeth James and Jennifer Hein. A water polo race and a woggle race (swimming's equivalent of the three legged race) completed the race programe to the confusion of the ASA qualified judges.

Councillor David Shopland and his wife very kindly attended the event and overcame microphone difficulties to present the Shield and certificates.

Finally the club held its annual Novice gala. 70 swimmers swam 265 swims and achieved a remarkable 172 Personal Bests. The quality of swimming was astonishing from children so young and we surely saw the start of many a promising swimming career.

The Winning St Nicholas Chantry School Team:

From Left to Right Ben Capern, Jamie Blease, Polly Tucker, Luke Maidment, Oliver Wilson, Becci Garland, Alistair Balcombe, Natasha Hawley, Sam Knowlton and Matt Bray. Missing from the photo is Emily Harden.

Graham Feboul