The St Bede's squad were again at the Freedom Leisure K2 Centre at Crawley for the second round of the County Championships. Still on a high from their performances in round one, there was an air of anticipation amongst the squad and supporters alike and because there are valuable points to be won for the Club in the overall championship the atmosphere is more highly charged than normal.
The swimmers were on top form and everyone contributed to the St Bede's overall points tally - several National Qualifying Times (NQT) were achieved and  personal best times were made with practically every race. The girls in particular were in no mood to take prisoners as Stephanie Ketley stormed to victory in the 100m Freestyle in a time of 57.91 (NQT), only fractionally outside Karen Pickering's 20 year old county record. Not satisfied with that Ketley then took gold in the 400m Freestyle in an equally impressive swim of 4.22.02 (NQT). Michael Faber and Tom Lamb had a superb battle in the 400m I.M. with Lamb's breaststroke giving him the lead only to be pulled back by Faber's powerful freestyle, Faber just edging it (4.41.89) from Lamb (4.42.39) at the finish.
Medals were won as follows:

The Girls:
Katherine H-Turner (11): Gold, 400m Free 5.00.24, 200m Fly 2.48.47; Bronze 100m Free 1.09.13, 200m I.M. 2.53.22.
Eve Carless (12): Bronze 400m Free 5.06.07
Cristina Richards (13): Gold 200m I.M. 2.33.23, 200m Breast 2.49.80, Silver 200m Fly 2.41.15, 400m Free 4.51.81, Bronze 100m Breast 1.22.10
Mary Carless (14): Silver 100m Free (1.02.42
Harriet Lambourne (15): Gold 200m Fly 2.22.07, 200m I.M. 2.24.97, 100m Breast 1.17.26, Bronze 50m Fly 30.08, 400m Free 4.35.96, 4th 100m Free 59.48 (NQT)
Stephanie Ketley (16): Gold 100m Free 57.91 (NQT), 400m Free 4.22.02 (NQT)

Girls 200m Medley relay team, Silver (Ketley, Lambourne, Richards, Mary Carless)

The Boys:
Andrew Horsfall-Turner (14): Gold 400m I.M. (4.59.85), 200m Free (2.06.26), Silver 100m Fly (1.05.81), Bronze 100m Back (1.06.10), 200m Back (2.20.93)
Tom Lamb (16): Silver 400m I.M. (4.42.39)
Michael Faber (17): Gold 400m I.M. 4.41.89, Silver 200m Free 1.56.09 (NQT), Bronze 100m Back 1.00.55 (NQT)

Out of the medals but making valuable contributions to the championship were: Rebekah Chapman, Jennifer Thorogood, Chloe Rowlinson, Charlotte Chapman, Peyton Newbury, Amelia Mitchell, Ben Jones, Sam Kebbell, Nick Ayers.

St Bede's with a squad of only 20 swimmers are currently in second place in the championship, a super achievement - even Head Coach Kevin Ayers could be seen smiling on poolside!