There is no rest for Chard Swimming Club members over the Easter break. They were busy in action again at the Three Towers Open Meet at Millfield, with 30 swimmers, aged between 9 and 15, competing over the two days.

The swimmers achieved many top medal positions – over 60 medals were won, with 34 gold, silver or bronze positions.

Four swimmers achieved South West Counties Qualifying or Consideration times; Hannah Pullinger (15) achieved two, in the 100 breaststroke and 200 freestyle, Jake Hallam (15) in the 100 butterfly, Elisha Hawkins (11) in the 200 breaststroke, and Joe Spurway (13) in the 200 freestyle.

Hannah Pullinger won an impressive four golds in 200, 100 and 50 breaststroke and 200 freestyle, with Elisha Hawkins 11, also winning four golds in 200 I/M, 100 and 200 breaststroke and 100 butterfly.

Other golds were won by Jake Hallam, 15 (100 butterfly), Joe Spurway, 13 (200 freestyle), Oliver Bilbie, 12 (50 backstroke), Lewis Pearson, 11 (50 freestyle), Jessica Mathieson, 14 (200 breaststroke), and Tamsin Edge, 10 (200 breaststroke).

Silver medals were won by Oliver Bilbie, 12 (100 backstroke), Tamsin Edge, 10 (50 breaststroke), Iain Ross, 11 (50 backstroke), Jamie Lillington, 13 (100 freestyle and 100 butterfly), Elisha Hawkins, 11 (100 freestyle) and Billie-Jo Dance, 13 (200 butterfly).

Bronze medals went to Jamie Pullinger, 12 (200 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle) Jessica Mathieson, 14 (100 breaststroke), Joe Spurway, 13 (50 and 100 backstroke), Iain Ross, 11 (200 breaststroke), Ashley Lillington, 13 (50 butterfly), Abi Bonning, 10 (50 freestyle), Susan Ross, 11 (50 and 100 backstoke), Lewis Pearson, 11 (200 backstoke), Hannah Pullinger, 15 (50 butterfly), and Jake Hallam, 15 (50 freestyle).

Other medal winners were Daniella Edge 12, Carrie Lewis 11, Bea Brett 10, Melissa Hanson 13, and Jessica Patch 9.

Special mention should also go to Daisy Brett and Jasmine Wellman, both 9 and swimming in their first Open Meet and achieving pbs.

Swimmers who also took part were Ryan Adair, Liam Mathieson, Tom Simpson, Florence Swan, Lauren Real, Mollie Simpson, Ella Harvey, and Lauren van den Barselaar, many of whom achieved personal best times.

?The Juniors are swimming in Round 1 of the Southern Junior League at Bridport this weekend, meanwhile, the Seniors, in conjunction with Street Swimming Club, are swimming as the ‘Somerset Cheetas’ and travelling to Sheffield for the prestigious National Final of the Arena League. This is an historic moment for both clubs, having never achieved a place in the final before, and they will be competing against the best Clubs in the Country.

Some of the senior squad, are jetting off to Spain for a week of swimming training along with Street SC and their joint Head Coach, former World Champion Breaststroke swimmer, Zoe Baker.

For more information about Chard & District Swimming Club visit their web-site chardswimming.org

Chard & District Swimming Club, hosted their second club gala of the year at the Flamingo Pool, Axminster, writes Steph Hallam.

Iain Ross 12, and Abigail Dare, 14, were on top form for the evening, winning all of their individual swims. Iain competed in the 50m Backstroke, 100m Breaststroke and 200m Butterfly, whilst Abigail swam the 50m Butterfly, 100m Backstroke, 200m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley.

A trio of younger Chard boys also celebrated achieving Speed Badges, with Joss Copeman achieving a Bronze Speed Badge in the 9yrs & under 25m Novice in a time of 19.48. Nathan Roberts and Alex Phillips also qualified for their Silver Speed Badges in the 50m Freestyle Novice event, Nathan in a time of 35.61 (1st) and Alex Phillips 35.76 (2nd).

Those who competed in the 8 yrs and under category were as follows: Milly Kendall and Oscar Rens won both of their events. Milly swam the 25m Backstroke and 25m Breaststroke; she also won the 9 yrs & under 25m novice freestyle event. Whilst Oscar swam the 25m Butterfly and 25m Freestyle. Luke Chant came (2nd) and William Hawkins came (3rd) in the 25m Freestyle and 25m Butterfly. For the girls, Abigail Greenslade was (2nd) in the 25m Backstroke, whilst Sharna Edge came (2nd) in the 25m Breaststroke, with Jessica McAuley coming (3rd) in both the 25m Breaststroke and 25m Backstroke.

Other top three age group medallists were as follows:

9yrs: Xanthe Dyer (1st) 50m Butterfly, 200m Freestyle, and 200m Individual Medley. Megan Herbert (1st) 100m Backstroke, and (2nd) 50m Butterfly. Daisy Brett (2nd) 200m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley, and (3rd) 50m Butterfly. Jasmine Wellman (2nd) 100m Backstroke. Helen Underwood (3rd) 100m Backstroke and 200m Freestyle. Joss Copeman (1st) 50m Backstroke. Michael Moulding (2nd) 100m Breaststroke and (3rd) 50m Backstroke. Oliver Bright (3rd) 100m Breaststroke.

10 yrs: Flora Hopkinson (2nd) 50m Butterfly, 100m Backstroke, and 200m Individual Medley, with (3rd) 200m Freestyle. Jessica Fowler (1st) 100m Backstroke, (2nd) 200m Freestyle and (3rd) 200m Individual Medley. Millie Shrubb (3rd) 100m Backstroke. Nancy Doble (3rd) 50m Butterfly. Henry Taswell (1st) 50m Backstroke and 200m Butterfly, (3rd) 100m Breaststroke. Leo Kindred (1st) 100m Breaststroke and (2nd) 50m Backstroke. Louis Fendall (2nd) 100m Breaststroke. Jamie Hannaford (3rd) 50m Backstroke.

11yrs: Tamsin Edge (1st) 50m Butterfly, 200m Freestyle, and 200m Individual Medley. Bea Brett (1st) 100m Backstroke, and (2nd) 200m Freestyle. Somer Horsfield (2nd) 50m Butterfly. Charlie Kendall (1st) 50m Backstroke, and 100m Breaststroke. Ryan Adair (1st) 200m Butterfly, (2nd) 100m Breaststroke and (3rd) 50m Backstroke. Ben Greenslade (2nd) 50m Backstroke.

12yrs: Susan Ross was (1st) in the 100m Backstroke and 200m Freestyle with (2nd) in both 50m Butterfly, and 200m Individual Medley. Ella Harvey (3rd) 200m Individual Medley. Hope Horsfield (3rd) 50m Butterfly. Florence Swan (3rd) 100m Backstroke and 200m Freestyle. Lewis Pearson (2nd) 50m Backstroke, 100m Breaststroke, and 200m Butterfly.

13-14yrs: Jamie Pullinger (2nd) 100m Breaststroke. Jay Kindred (3rd) 100m Breaststroke.

Open: Hannah Pullinger (1st) 200m Freestyle, (2nd) 50m Butterfly, 100m Backstroke and 200m Individual Medley. Jake Hallam came (1st) in the 200m Butterfly and 100m Breaststroke with (3rd) in the 50m Backstroke. Luke van den Barselaar (1st) 50m Backstroke and (3rd) 100m Breaststroke. Ben Fowler grabbed (2nd) in the 50m Backstroke.

Novice events: Boys 9yrs & under: Oliver Bright (2nd).

Girls 9yrs & under: Xanthe Dyer (2nd) Daisy Brett (3rd).

Girls 50m Novice: Ella Harvey (1st), Lauren Real (2nd), Carrie Lewis (3rd)

Boys 50m Novice: Ben Greenslade (3rd).

Other local swimmers participating were:, Cameron and Nathan Boland, Jimmy Brett, Harriet Copeman, Holly Dickinson, Georgia Down, Rory Dyer, Marianna Dyer, Daniella Edge, Ella Hawkins, Leonie Houseman, Louis Jones, Jared Lee, Polly Martin, Eden McDonald, Abigail Phillips, Tristan O‘Leary, Tom and Mollie Simpson, Abigail, Naomi and Adam Speake, , Sarah and Natalie Underwood.