There was some exceptional swimming from several of our younger swimmers in Development, County and Regional Squad at the Richmond “Off the Blocks” Gala last weekend.

Two swimmers deserve special mention, eight year old Henry Roberts and nine year old, Neve May. Henry took the top spot, not once, not twice but three times, taking the GOLD in the 50m Fly, 50m Back and 50m Breast. He also medalled in the 50m Freestyle where he took second place and picked up a SILVER medal.

Neve took a host of medals and top five positions. She took GOLD in the 50m Back, 50m Freestyle and 100 IM, SILVER in the 100m Freestyle, BRONZE in the 50m Fly and 50m Breaststroke and a very respectable fourth place in the 100m Breaststroke event. The nine year old Girls’ 100 IM event was quite an astounding race for York City Baths Club. Neve snatched the win but she was hotly pursued by several of her club-mates; Poppy Davis-Coyle came third, Emily Frew took fourth, swiftly chased in by Annabelle Loft in fifth place, followed by Sara Ungar in sixth place, who had Katrina Penman snapping at her toes as she touched into seventh place, before Isla Yates touched the wall in eighth place. Fair to say that Team YCBC dominated the field in this event.

Elsewhere in the nine year old Girls’ events, Jessica Young was the first to finish in the 100m Back and came third in the 50m Free. Emily Frew also achieved a first place in the 100m Fly in addition to coming fourth in the 100 IM and 50m Fly. Ruby Allitt shone GOLD in the 100m Breaststroke.

Over in the nine year old Boys’ events, Nathan Carrington came back down the A19 with a trio of cracking results, he took second place in the 50m Breaststroke and 100 IM and third place in the 100m Freestyle. Team-mate Isaac Hebden took third place in the 100 IM.

In the ten year old Boys’ events, Joe Scholefield and Lucas Edmonds were battling it out side by side. On this occasion Joe just had the edge over Lucas and took first place in the 100m Back to Lucas’ commendable SILVER position. Again, the two took each other on in the 50m Freestyle, Joe touched in for third place and a BRONZE medal and Lucas came an admirable fourth. John Byrne was racing in the 100 Fly and came away happy with a SILVER medal.

In the ten year old Girls’ events, Brooke Thomas Durrant had a great day knocking out some PBs and taking two SILVER medals in the 50m Fly and 50m Back and two BRONZE medals in the 200m Freestyle and the 50m Freestyle. Brooke was joined at the medal table by Millie Vincent Johnston who took BRONZE in the 100m Breaststroke and Florence Spencely who came second in the 100m Breaststroke.

What was going on in the 11 year old Boys’ events. Thomas Johnston showed his dominance in the 100m Breaststroke and took the win. Lawrence Brewer and Billy Ainsworth battled it out for third and fourth place respectively in the 50m Fly and Lawrence also found the energy to take BRONZE in the 100 IM.

Elsewhere, 8yo Clara McAllister took SILVER in the 50m Breaststroke and BRONZE in the 50m Freestyle, 11yo Hannah Rich came third in the 50m Breaststroke, 12yo Lucas Duncan came third in the 200m Freestyle and 13yo Beau Varley came third in the 50m Freestyle.

These results are just the tip of the iceberg, the “Off the Block” gala was phenomenally successful for Team YCBC, a quick glance at the results, available on www.foxsgalatimings.co.uk/onlineresults/romeet17/index.php show a phenomenal number of Top Ten places for our swimmers. I haven’t been able to name everyone who contributed to this SUPER SUCCESSFUL SATURDAY AND SUNDAY but a huge well done to you all.