PSC SHINE AT SOUTH WEST WINTER CHAMPS

Poole Swimming Club Shines at Southwest Winter Regional Championships

In an exhilarating display of talent and teamwork, a spirited team of 13 athletes from Poole Swimming Club descended upon the famed Millfield School pool for the highly competitive Southwest Winter Regional Championships. This year’s events featured two dynamic age categories: Junior (15 and under) and Senior (16 and over), each packed with challenging qualifying times that promised to showcase the athletes' hard work and determination.

The meet proved a resounding success, with Poole Swimming Club bringing home an impressive haul of 10 medals—2 Gold, 4 Silver, and 4 Bronze. Among the standout performances, two swimmers were crowned Southwest Champions, club records were lowered, and national times were gained.

Leo W emerged as a true star, winning the title of Junior Champion in the 50m Freestyle. His journey to the top was thrilling, as he achieved a remarkable personal best in the heat and excelled during an exciting swim-off for a place in the final. Leo demonstrated keen adaptability, refining his race strategy and key technical elements from the previous week’s competition. He ultimately finished the day with another personal best in the 100m Individual Medley and earned a bronze medal.

Not to be outdone, Ollie J showcased his prowess by claiming the Senior Champion title in the 100m Medley. His performances over the three days were a testament to his preparation, using the competition to fine-tune his technique ahead of the Swim England Winter Nationals later this season.

Halle Harris also delivered a standout set of performances, securing four podium finishes: Senior Silver in the 50m and 100m Backstroke and Bronze in the 50m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly.

Freddie B celebrated a significant milestone by earning his first senior medal, achieving silver in the 200m Breaststroke with a season-best time. He further impressed coaches setting new personal bests in the 400m Individual Medley, 50m Breaststroke, and 100m Individual Medley.

Lauren P, competing in her first South West Championships, continued her brilliant trajectory of improvement, securing personal bests in the 50m Freestyle and 100m Freestyle, taking home Bronze and Silver, respectively. She narrowly missed out on a medal with a commendable 4th place finish in the 100m Backstroke.

Young talent Leo C also made waves by dipping below 2.30 for the 200m Breaststroke, making it to the Senior B Final and setting a new club record twice.

Jes H was a busy competitor, reaching six finals and racking up a full set of personal bests in backstroke. She showcased her continued development, particularly in her underwater skills across freestyle, fly, IM, and backstroke events.

Carmen M and Luca G achieved personal bests in their events, with Carmen excelling in the 50m Freestyle and Luca in the 50m Breaststroke. Meanwhile, Ollie D, Arron H, Luca S, and Erin Mc all gained valuable experience, honing their race strategies throughout the competition.

Congratulations to the entire team! The camaraderie and spirit displayed throughout the championships were genuinely inspiring. The swimmers returned with videos of their races, providing plenty of material to focus on in training.

A special thank you goes to Team Manager/Race Videographer Bev, Coaches Barry and Jan, and the Officials (our very own Gail and Sarah) and Volunteers who played pivotal roles in making the meet such a success. Here’s to more achievements in the future for Poole Swimming Club!