Chard Swimming Club held their fourth and final in-house club gala of the year at Flamingo Pool in Axminster, writes Hannah Pullinger.

Over 80 swimmers ranging in age from six to 16 years took part. There were some excellent swims which secured a Silver Speed badge for Marianna Dyer, swimming under 36 seconds in the 50 free for the first time. Forty-four county qualifying times were achieved along with nine regional-level times (although regional/national times cannot officially be achieved at this level of gala).

Swimmers who achieved regional level times were: Hannah Pullinger, 16, 100 breaststroke; Abi Dare,15, 100 breaststroke; Tessa Down,15, 100 breaststroke; Luke van den Barselaar, 16, 50 free, 200 back; Jake Hallam,16, 50 free, 100 butterfly; Ben Fowler,16, 200 back; Elisha Hawkins, 12, 100 breaststroke.

?Chard & District SC are always looking for new members; sessions are held at Axminster, Chard and Crewkerne, as well as long course training at Millfield School pool. If you would like to find out more or arrange a free trial please visit our web-site at www.chardswimming.org.uk

Swimmers of the month for July were Simon Davis, 11, and Leonie Housham, nine, bottom pic, who achieved the most progress points at Club Gala 3 in July. In August the trophies went to Elisha Hawkins, 12, and Jake Hallam, 16, for the most points achieved from all events during the year as there were no galas during August.

Full results and open water swimming report on www.midweekherald.co.uk

Gala Results:

8 &Under Events

Boys 25m Butterfly: 1 Jimmy Brett, 2 Joe Shrubb, 3 Cole Dickinson

Boys 25m Freestyle: 1 Jimmy Brett, 2 Cole Dickinson 3 Joe Shrubb

Girls 25m Backstroke 1 Millie Downes, 2 Abi Greenslade, 3 Mia Huntley

Girls 25m Breaststroke 1 Millie Downes, 2 Abi Greenslade 3 Abbie Herbert

Girls 50 Freestyle

Open: 1 Hannah Pullinger, 2 Abi Dare, and Tessa Down; 13/14 Years: 1 Susan Ross, 2 Hope Horsfield, 3 Elisha Hawkins,; 12 Years: 1 Abi Bonning, 2 Tamsin Edge, 3 Grace Haskins; 11 Years: 1 Jess Patch, 2 Jess Fowler, 3 Jasmine Voysey; 10 Years: 1 Jess McAuley, 2 Eden McDonald, 3 Sharna Edge

Boys 50 Freestyle

Open: 1 Luke van den Barselaar, 2 Jake Hallam, 3 Joe Spurway; 13/14 Years: 1 Oliver Bilbie, 2 Iain Ross, 3 Rory Dyer; 12 Years: 1 Henry Taswell, 2 Leo Kindred, 3 Simon Davis; 10 Years: 1 Leo Bonning, 2 Oliver Bright, 3 Joss Copeman; 9 Years: 1 Jamie Porter, 2 William Hawkins, 2 Oscar Rens

Girls 200 Butterfly

Open: 1 Abi Dare, 2 Melissa Hanson, 3 Tessa Down; 13/14 Years: 1 Elisha Hawkins, 2 Susan Ross, 3 Florence Swan; 12 Years: 1 Tamsin Edge, 2 Abi Bonning;11 Years: 1 Millie Shrubb;10 Years: 1 Holly Dickinson; 9 Years: 1 Eden McDonald

Boys 200 Backstroke

Open: 1 Luke van den Barselaar, 2 Ben Fowler, 3 Joe Spurway;13/14 Years: 1 Oliver Bilbie, 2 Jamie Pullinger, 3 Paul Harrison;12 Years: 1 Ryan Adair, 2 Ben Greenslade, 3 Tom Simpson

11 Years: 1 Henry Taswell, 2 Leo Kindred , 3 Simon Davis;10 Years: 1 Leo Bonning, 2 Michael Moulding; 9 Years: 1 Oscar Rens, 2 William Hawkins, 3 Ben Webb

Girls 100 Breastroke

Open: 1 Hannah Pullinger, 2 Tessa Down, 3 Abi Dare; 13/14 Years: 1 Elisha Hawkins, 2 Florence Swan, 3 Daniella Edge; 12 Years: 1 Tamsin Edge, 2 Abi Bonning, 3 Grace Haskins

11 Years: 1 Jess Patch, 2 Jess Fowler, 3 Nancy Doble; 10 Years: 1 Xanthe Dyer, 2 Megan Herbert, 3 Helen Underwood; 9 Years: 1 Jess McAuley, 2 Sharna Edge

Boys 100 Butterfly

Open: 1 Jake Hallam, 2 Luke van den Barselaar, 3 Ben Fowler; 13/14 Years: 1 Jamie Pullinger, 2 Oliver Bilbie, 3 Rory Dyer; 12 Years: 1 Ben Greenslade, 2 Ryan Adair, 3 Liam Mathieson

11 Years: 1 Henry Taswell , 2 Leo Kindred

10 Years: 1 Leo Bonning, 2 Joss Copeman, 3 Oliver Bright; 9 Years: 1 Oscar Rens, 2 William Hawkins

Girls 100 Individual Medley

Open: 1 Hannah Pullinger, 2 Abi Dare, 3 Tessa Down; 13/14 Years: 1 Elisha Hawkins, 2 Susan Ross, 3 Daniella Edge; 12 Years: 1 Tamsin Edge, 2 Abi Bonning, 3 Grace Haskins

11 Years: 1 Jess Patch, 2 Jess Fowler, 3 Jasmine Voysey; 10 Years: 1 Xanthe Dyer, 2 Megan Herbert, 3 Helen Underwood; 9 Years: 1 Jess McAuley, 2 Eden McDonald, 3 Sharna Edge

Girls Novice 25m 1 Sharna Edge, 2 Harriet Copeman, 3 Brooke Mathieson;

Girls Novice 50m 1 Marianna Dyer, 2 Jess Patch, 3 Xanthe Dyer;

Boys Novice 25m 1 Oscar Rens, 2 Jamie Porter, 3 Jimmy Brett

Boys Novice 50m 1 Ben Greenslade, 2 Liam Mathieson, 3 Leo Kindred,

Open Water Success

The weather also held out last weekend for the Black buoy Cup Open Water swim organised by Bridport Barracudas Swimming Club. The event held at West Bay, involves swimming a distance of a ‘Bridport Mile’ (roughly 1222 metres) from the beach swimming straight out to sea, around a buoy and back again. Chard swimmer Lauren Harrison (15) entered the event this year for the first time. Despite being the fourth swimmer overall and first female to emerge from the rather choppy

sea, Lauren ended up in a race to the line with Sophie Dawe of the Barracudas who came out of the water close behind her and made a dash for the finish line. Lauren, belatedly realising she had to actually cross the line a few metres away on the shingle beach, made a final run and both girls completed the race with exactly the same time (19.54 mins). Lauren was awarded second place for the Ladies Cup and presented with a first place Junior Girl’s Cup. A close finish and perhaps a good lesson to be learnt there!

Swimmers of the month for July were Simon Davis 11 and Leonie Housham 9 who achieved the most progress points at Club Gala 3 in July. In August the trophies went to Elisha Hawkins 12 and Jake Hallam 16 for the most points achieved from all events during the year as there were no galas during August.

Chard & District are always looking for new members; sessions are held at Axminster, Chard and Crewkerne, as well as long course training at Millfield School pool. If you would like to find out more or arrange a free trial please visit our web-site at www.chardswimming.org.uk