Chard and District Swimming Club held their second Preliminaries Gala of the year, writes Xanthe Dye.

This gala is for the club’s newest and younger junior swimmers (13 and under) to experience competitive swimming in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

The competitors, many of whom had never competed in a Gala before, swam 50m (two lengths) of each stroke, and there were over 40 personal best times across the 36 swimmers. The Gala was rounded off with some fun relays which everyone enjoyed.

All of them received certificates with their times from each event, presented at the end of the gala by Head Coach June Turner to; Henry Birchall, William Birchall, Harry Byrnes, Darcie Cockburn, Oliver Collins, Finlay Downes, Kaitlyn Flannigan, Matt Frewin, Isabel Glazebrook, Manon Heard, Delilah Hutter, Alara Jenkin, Finley Jenkin, Harrison Larcombe, Charlotte Mansfield, Rosie Parris, Ferdy Parry-Leyshon, Louis Parry-Leyshon, Noah Peters, Eleanor Poole, Harrison Porter, Tatyana Pushkarev, Rebecca Randolph, Suzie Rood, Daisy Russell, Marcie Russell, Lola Saxby, Edward Sims, Lily Sims, Jamie Slater, Joshua Stansfield, Dylan Suter, Aeron Tollett, Willow Voysey, Cerys Williams and Isabella Young.

The timing and marshalling was undertaken by several older swimmers who are or will be taking part in the ASA Young Volunteers Programme, these were; Ben Greenslade, Henry Taswell, Xanthe Dyer, Joss Copeman, Jess Fowler, Megan Herbert, Abbie Herbert, Briana Barrand and Millie Downes.

Chard Swimming Club is always welcoming new swimmers, to find out more about the club or how to join, visit chardswimming.org.uk