Thirty-one Chard swimmers aged from nine to 17 years old entered the Annual Clevedon and Chard Open Meet – now in its seventh year - held at Weston Super Mare, writes Hannah Pullinger.

Conditions were hot both inside and outside the pool.

Many swimmers turned in excellent all-round performances in the events they entered, and two achieved Top Boy or Girl Awards for their age. Awards went to Cole Dickinson in the 9 year boys age group, Henry Taswell in the 13 year boys age group and Iain Ross in the 14 year boys age group.

Special mention also goes to 9-year-olds Caitlin Sloman, Grace Lambert and Jevan Hampton Rumbold who were swimming in their first ever open meet.

Caitlin won a silver medal in 50m butterfly, and a top eight medal in 50m freestyle, Grace won bronze in the 50m freestyle and top eight medals on 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly, and Jevan won a top eight medal in the 50m freestyle.

Top three positions were achieved by: Paul Harrison, 15, 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m Individual Medley;

Jay Kindred,16, 100 and 200m breaststroke; Lewis Pearson, 14, 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 100 and 200m freestyle, 200m Individual Medley; Iain Ross, 14, 100 and 200m butterfly, 100m breaststroke, 100 and 200m freestyle, 200m Individual Medley;

Susan Ross, 14, 100 and 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke; Leo Kindred, 13, 100 and 200m breaststroke; Henry Taswell, 13, 100 and 200m freestyle, 200m Individual Medley, 100 & 200m backstroke; Joss Copeman, 12, 100 and 200m butterfly, 200m Individual Medley, 100 and 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke; Simon Davis, 12, 100 and 200m breaststroke, 100 and 200m backstroke, 100m freestyle

Xanthe Dyer, 12, 100 and 200m breaststroke, 200m Individual Medley; Megan Herbert, 12, 100m breaststroke; Harriet Copeman, 10, 50m freestyle; Louis Rood, 10, 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke; Millie Downes, 10, 50m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke, 200m Individual Medley; Jamie Porter, 10, 50m freestyle; Cole Dickinson, 9, 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke, 200m butterfly, 200m freestyle; Caitlin Sloman, 9, 50m butterfly; Grace Lambert, 9, 50m freestyle.

Other swimmers who competed, many gaining top eight medal positions and personal best times were; Grace Haskins, 14, Moli Riley, 13, Oliver Bright, 12, Sam Platten, 12, Oliver Parry-Leyshon, 12, Helen Underwood, 12, Imogen Waterhouse, 11, Ben Webb, 11, Briana Barrand, 10, Jacob Hale, 10, Abbie Herbert, 10, Mia Huntley, 10, Jevan Hampton Rumbold, 9.