A small group of St Bede’s swimmers made their way to Portsmouth for Littlehampton Swimming Club’s Open meet.
Tom Lamb was chasing his first National Championship Qualifying time and was in confident mood as he stepped up to the block for the start of the 400m Individual Medley. He went out quickly on the Butterfly leg leaving nobody to push him, and having already established a commanding lead, it was going to have to be a ‘solo’ effort against the clock. Tom’s lead was building all the time and he even lapped the second place swimmer as he came in to touch in a time of 4.40.95 – he had done it, he could at last pack his bag for the trip to Sheffield in July for the National Championships.
The other St Bede’s swimmers were all swimming personal best times (PB) with Charlotte Chapman gaining Regional Qualifying times (RQT) for 200m Back and 400m Free.

Results as follows:

Tom Lamb (17): Gold and NQT 400m IM 4.40.95
Rebekah Chapman (14): Gold 200m IM 2.37.10, 200m Back 2.32.25, Silver 100m Back 1.12.31, Bronze 400m Free 4.54.57
Emma Horsfall-Turner (13) PB’s 400m Free 5.27.44, 200m Free 2.38.49, 50m Back 41.03
Eve Carless (13): PB’s 50m Free 32.51, 400m Free 5.01.64
Charlotte Chapman (10): Silver, RQT & PB 200m Back 2.55.31, RQT  & PB 400m Free 5.44.74, PB 100m Free 1.16.33