Team Luton won 1 gold 4 silver and 10 bronze medals at the East Region Long Course championships held over three weekends in meets at Norwich, Basildon and Luton. The medals were collected by six of the Club’s swimmers aged from 12 to 20 years whilst sixteen in total had qualified for the championships. Many of them claimed personal best times in what for some were their first ever regional competitions.

At the Youth Regionals, held for swimmers aged 14 years and above, Celyn Walmsley (aged 17) came away with a gold in the 400m Individual medley (“IM”), a silver in the 200m IM and a bronze in the 1500m Free in the 17 years and over age group.

Matthew Wright (aged 20), had a very successful championships, winning 5 medals from 5 races in the 17 years and over events. A silver in the 200m Butterfly and bronze in each of the 100m Butterfly, 100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle. Matthew’s swim in the 400m Freestyle also broke the Beds County record, lowering the mark to 4:06.04.

Chantal Smith (18) won bronze in the 800m Freestyle and made the final of the 200m Freestyle, finishing 4th.

In the 15 years’ age group, Chiara Rogers won a bronze in her 200m Breaststroke and made the final in the 100m Breaststroke, finishing 5th.

Strong performances also came from Oli Hunt (50m Breaststroke), in his first regional championships, Freddie Symonds (50m,100m, and 200m Breaststroke), Abbie Barnwell (100m 200m and 400m Freestyle), Anna Fallon (200m Fly and 400m IM), and Ellie King (50m and 100m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly).

At the Age Group Championships held for swimmers between the ages of 11 and 14, five medals were won by Team Luton. Rhys Davidson claimed a silver in his 14 years age group’s 200m IM and bronze in both the 400m IM and 800m Freestyle, with Jack Juggins winning a silver in the 11/12 years’ 100m Backstroke and bronze in the 200m Backstroke.

Rhys also made the finals in the 200m Breaststroke (4th), 100m Breaststroke (5th), 100m Backstroke (8th) and 200m Freestyle (5th). Jack made finals in the 200m IM (5th) and the 200m Freestyle (6th).

Menna Walmsley, came away with Personal Best times from 3 races, making the finals of both the 100m (7th) and 200m Butterfly (5th) in the 14 years age group. She won an amazing swim off to make the final of the 100m Fly, lowering her best time from the heats from a 1:10.53, to a time in the swim off of 1:08.91.

Tom Malia also came away with a 100 % personal best strike rate in all seven of his 14 years’ events, the 200m, 400m and 800m Freestyle, 100m and 200m Backstroke, 200m and 400m IM.

More excellent swims also came in the 11/12 years age group from Daniella Njawaya (50m, 100m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke), Lyla Howard (50m and 100m Freestyle), and Veronica Popow (100m Butterfly), all of whom were competing at their first Regionals and all came away with new personal bests.

The results and performances across all the ages reflected the breadth of talent within Team Luton and were testament to the time and effort given by all of the Club’s coaches headed by Rikki Morris.