Chard and District swimmer Elisha Hawkins celebrated achieving her first National qualifying time at the recent Regional Age Group Championships at Millfield earlier this month writes Hannah Pullinger.

Thirteen-year-old Hawkins achieved the time in her 200m breaststroke heat and reached the final in her age group finishing sixth.

The youngster also reached the final in the 100m breaststroke event, finishing seventh.

Only two junior Chard swimmers achieved the qualifying times to compete at the Regional Championships this year, the other was 14-year-old Jamie Pullinger who swam in the 100m backstroke event.

Meanwhile, last weekend Chard and District Swimming Club Juniors travelled to Dorchester’s new Leisure Centre for the third round of the Southern Junior League. This was the final round of the series of three Galas that make up the Junior League and the team were determined to end on a high note, and did just that by winning the Gala with a resounding 25 point lead.

Congratulations go to Bea Brett (12) who broke her own club record in the 50m butterfly again, and nailed first positions in both her individual events – 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke.

Other great swims securing a total of twenty four first positions came from; Henry Taswell (12), 50m backstroke and butterfly, Abi Greenslade (9), 25m butterfly, Millie Downes (9), 25m breaststroke, Louis Rood (9), 25m backstroke and 25m butterfly, Jess Fowler (11), 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle, Xanthe Dyer 50m butterfly, Abi Bonning (12), 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke, and Megan Herbert (11), 50m breaststroke. Chard achieved an amazing forty top three positions overall in the forty nine events!

There was success also in relays as the 9yr Girls and 9yr Boys both secured first place in their events, as did both the 11yr and 12yr Girls teams, and the 12yr Boys team in their freestyle events.

Last up was the mixed Cannon freestyle relay in which a girl and boy from each age group take part, and the noise could have brought the house down as Chard came in to win this event as well!

The Junior League Squad for this Gala was; Boys – Louis Rood, Jamie Porter, Daniel Humphreys, Jacob Hale, Leo Bonning, Michael Moulding, Joss Copeman, Simon Davis, Oliver Bright, Oliver Rodger, Henry Taswell, Ben Greenslade whilst the Girls team comprised; Millie Downes, Harriet Copeman, Briana Barrand, Abi Greenslade, Eden McDonald, Leonie Housham, Imogen Waterhouse, Jess Fowler, Megan Herbert, Xanthe Dyer, Baylei Callow, Abi Morgan, Daisy Brett, Abi Bonning, Moli Riley and Bea Brett.

Thanks go to our Coach June Turner and all the parent helpers who assisted with this Gala and the others in the series.

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