Thirty four Chard and District Swimming Club swimmers entered the Annual Clevedon and Chard Open Meet held at Weston super Mare in June on one of the hottest days of the year so far. Swimmers ranged from 9 to 16 years old, writes Hannah Pullinger.

Four swimmers turned in excellent, all-round performances in all events they entered and achieved Top Boy or Girl Awards for their age groups; Hannah Pullinger in the 15+ , Tessa Down 14 yrs, Jamie Pullinger 12 yrs and Elisha Hawkins 11 yrs. As regional level swimmers, they were all too fast to enter their best events at this Meet.

The four were all delighted to have won the awards this year as John Farrant, Chard Swimming Club’s former coach of 20 years and this year’s Somerset ASA President, was there to make the presentations.

Nine-year-old Joss Copeman swam in his very first Open Meet and achieved a sixth place medal and nine second personal best in the 50m freestyle.

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Top positions were achieved by:

Hannah Pullinger (15) Gold in 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 200m Individual Medley, Silver in 100m backstroke, Bronze in 100m breastroke, 4th in 200m breastroke

Tessa Down (14) Gold in 200m & 100m backstroke, Bronze in 100m freestyle, 4th 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly

Jamie Pullinger (12) Gold in 200m breastroke, Silver in 100m breastroke and 200m Individual Medley, Bronze in 100m butterfly, 200m & 100m freestyle,

Elisha Hawkins (11) Silver 200m butterfly, 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle & 50m butterfly, Bronze 200m Individual Medley, 8th 200m freestyle

Jamie Spiller (16) Silver 200m breastroke & 200m backstroke, Bronze 200m freestyle, 5th 100m backstroke & 100m freestyle

Ben Fowler (15) Gold 100m& 200m backstroke, 5th 200m freestyle

Abi Dare (14) Gold 100m butterfly, Silver 100m & 200m freestyle

Jodie Hake (14) Gold 100m, 200m freestyle & 200m Individual Medley

Jess Mathieson (14) Gold 100m & 200m breastroke, 5th 100m freestyle

Billie-Jo Dance (14) Gold 200m butterfly, Silver 100m butterfly, 4th 100m backstroke,5th 200m Individual Medley, 7th 100m freestyle, 8th 200m freestyle,

Melissa Hanson (13) Bronze 200m backstroke, 5th 200m freestyle,

Mollie Simpson (13) 8th 100m freestyle

Jamie Lillington (13) Bronze 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle & 100m backstroke, 6th 200m Individual Medley, 8th 200m freestyle

Ashley Lillington(13) 5th 100m freestyle, 7th 200m Individual Medley

Joe Spurway (13) Bronze 200m Individual Medley, 5th 200m freestyle

Oliver Bilbie (13) Gold 100m backstroke, 6th 100m freestyle

Jay Kindred (13) Gold 200m breastroke & 100m breastroke, 4th 100m freestyle

Paul Harrison (12) Bronze 100m & 200m backstroke, 8th 100m freestyle

Charlie Kendall (11) 4th 50m backstroke & 50m freestyle, 8th 200m backstroke

Lewis Pearson (11) Gold 50m backstroke & 50m freestyle, 4th 100m butterfly, 5th 200m freestyle & 50m breastroke, 6th 200m Individual Medley

Jess Patch (10) 5th 50m breastroke, 6th 200m breastroke

Abi Bonning (10) Silver 200m breastroke & 50m freestyle, 6th 50m butterfly

India Woodhams (10) 8th 50m breastroke

Ben Greenslade (10) 5th 200m freestyle & 50m freestyle, 8th 50m backstroke

Ryan Adair (10) Bronze 50m backstroke,4th 50m butterfly, 6th 50m freestyle, 8th 50m breastroke

Leo Kindred (10) Gold 200m breastroke & 50m breastroke, 8th 50m freestyle

Liam Mathieson (10) 6th 200m freestyle, 7th 200m breastroke & 50m freestyle

Henry Taswell (10) 5th 200m Individual Medley &200m backstroke, 6th 50m butterfly

Jess Fowler (9) Silver 50m backstroke, 5th 50m breastroke, 7th 50m freestyle

Other swimmers who competed, gaining several personal best times were Florence Swan (12), Ella Harvey (11), Carrie Lewis (11), and Tom Simpson (11)

Anyone interested in joining Chard & District Swimming Club please contact the web-site www.chardswimming.org The Club is holding an Open afternoon on Sunday 17th July at Chard pool 3.30-4.30pm with coach John Farrant for anyone age 6+ interested in trying a taster session or finding out more. All welcome.