Swimming at the Crawley Opportunity Meet gave some of the younger St Bede’s swimmers the chance to compete in a 50m pool for the first time. They certainly did not disappoint and medals were coming in thick and fast. Eve Carless (age 13) took 2 golds in the freestyle events and was narrowly beaten to the hat-trick by her team mate Amelia Mitchell who took the gold in an exciting finger-tip finish. The third St Bede’s golden girl was Rebekah Chapman (14) who secured 2 first places and not to be outdone as the only St Bede’s boy on poolside was Eliot Wood (14) who also won 2 gold medals.

Gaining valuable experience but just out of the places were Bethany Tagg and Emma Horfall-Turner. Head Coach Kevin Ayers was impressed by his squad saying, “the lessons learnt today competing in a 50m pool cannot be under estimated. I am delighted with the attitude and desire that the swimmers have shown.”

Medals were taken as follows:
Jennifer Thorogood (9): Silver 50m Breast 53.88
Charlotte Chapman (11): Silver 50m Free 35.75, 200m Free 2.40.61; Bronze 100m Free 1.17.10, 200m IM 3.05.56
Katherine Horsfall Turner (12): Bronze 200m Free 2.32.57
Eve Carless (13): Gold 200m Free 2.24.01, 100m Free 1.06.12; Silver 50m Free 31.34, 100m Breast 1.28.50
Amelia Mitchell (13): Gold 50m Free 30.54; Bronze 100m Free 1.09.40
Rebekah Chapman (14): Gold 200m Free 2.24.19, 200m IM 2.42.30
Eliot Wood (14): Gold 50m Free 30.53, 200m Free 2.23.22; Bronze 100m Free 1.06.58, 200m IM 2.48.63