The Somerset County Championships have just been held over a series of four weekends at the Hutton Moor Pool in Weston. Once again, Clevedon Swimming Club, sponsored by Bristol Hotspring Ltd. performed superbly, continuing its inexorable rise up the county hierarchy. The club's swimmers achieved a staggering 157 Personal Bests, won 26 medals and had a further 45 top eight finishes.

In the overall age group classifications Olivia Twynham-Richarson ran away with first place in the nine year old girls. George Leaman finished fourth in the 10 year old boys, Lizzie Warnes came seventh in the 13year old girls and Ellie Chappell gained 8th in the 11 year old girls.

Olivia scooped 5 Gold medals, a Silver and a further top 8 finish on her way to the title and was the obvious highlight, but Lizzie Warnes' consistant finishing - coming in the top 8 in no less than 7 events and bagging a Silver was also outstanding.

The rest of the medallists were:

Steff Reynolds with 2 Golds, a Silver, a Bronze and 2 top eight places, Jenni Gilbert with a Gold, a Silver and 2 Bronzes. Amber Summerell did amazingly well to pick up 2 Silvers and a top eight place. Young George Leaman gained a Silver and a Bronze togehter with no less than 5 other top 8 finishes, Rebecca Parsons and Steve Bowen both won Silver Rebeca with a further 4 and Steve with a further 2 top 8 places.

Ellie Chappell won 3 Bronze medals and had a further 1 top 8, Harry Thornton had a Bronze and 5 other placings, whilst Ben Horner had a Bronze and 1 other place.

India Thomas, Megan Finnie, Guy Prideaux, Dannielle Appleford, Charlotte Ellis, Sophie Fisher, Laura Hearn, Lee Hicks, Samuel Hodge and Erika Mason all finished in top 8 positions in their age groups.

These were all fantastic performances in a County Championship that was just bubbling with talent. Several long standing County records were broken, many held by swimmers who went on to swim for Great Britain! Against this level of competition the Clevedon swimmers were able to pull out their best performances and their medal haul shows just how well they were able to compete.   

[Photos A selection of Clevedon Medallists back home at Strode Road from L to R Amber Summerell, Jenni Gilbert, Lizzie Warnes, Steve Bowen, George Leaman, Steff Reynolds, Harry Thornton, Ellie Chappell, Ben Horner and Rebecca Parsons

Olivia Twynham Richards missed the shot as she is on holiday, but is included separately in training at the warm weather training camp in Lanzarote]

Graham Feboul

Press Officer