So, it was time for the first competition of 2009 and St Bede's headed for Brighton to take part in the Tom Handley Memorial Open Meet. With the serious end of the season starting to come into view, the squad had their eyes on obtaining Regional and National Championship qualifying times (RQT & NQT). The swimmers certainly did not disappoint with personal best times rolling in with practically every event.

Ed Castro (age 20), back from Bath University, led from the front taking four Gold medals and lowering the Sussex County Open 200m Butterfly Record to an incredible 2.04.01. Michael Faber (17), on the shortlist for the Kent & Sussex Courier Newspaper Young Sports Personality of the Year, added the 100m Backstroke to his ever-growing portfolio of National times. Castro and Faber had an incredible race for the 100m Freestyle title - Faber had the lead to the 75m mark but Castro managed to come back in the final 25m to win by 0.13 of a second! In the 200m Freestyle it was again Castro and Faber in 1st & 2nd only this time they were also joined by Anthony White (17) making the perfect 1,2,3 for St Bede's!
Stephanie Ketley emphasised her class, yet again going under the National time for the 200m Backstroke in a great mark of 2.19.15.

Top 3 places as follows:
Boys
Ed Castro (20): 1st 100m Fly 58.19 (RQT), 200m Fly 2.04.01 (RQT), 100m Free 53.68 (RQT), 200m Free 1.54.56 (RQT).
Michael Faber (17): 1st 200m I.M. 2.15.04  (RQT), 100m Breast 1.10.07 (RQT); 2nd 100m Back 1.00.58 (NQT), 200m Free 1.58.53 (RQT), 100m Free 53.81 (RQT), 200m Back 2.11.62 (RQT).
Anthony White (17): 1st 200m Breast 2.34.37; 2nd 200m I.M. 2.18.17 (RQT); 3rd 200m Free 1.58.56 (RQT), 100m Breast 1.10.83
Andrew H-Turner (14): 1st 200m Back 2.23.79 (RQT); 2nd 200m Free 2.08.75 (RQT), 100m Free 1.00.17 (RQT), 200m I.M. 2.25.81 (RQT), 200m Fly 2.28.74; 3rd 100m Fly 1.07.78, 100m Back 1.08.83.
Nick Ayers (17): 3rd 2.17.16

Girls
Stephanie Ketley (15): 1st 200m Back 2.19.15 (NQT), 200m Free 2.08.51 (RQT), 100m Back 1.08.88 (RQT); 2nd 100m Free 1.01.33 (RQT), 50m Free 28.04 (RQT).
Mary Carless (14): 1st 100m Breast 1.22.30
Cristina Richards (13): 1st 200m I.M. 2.35.25 (RQT), 200m Back 2.34.70, 200m Fly 2.42.41; 2nd 100m Fly 1.14.37, 200m Breast 2.54.06.
Katherine H-Turner (11): 2nd 200m Fly 2.51.53 (RQT)

Out of the top 3 but with many County Qualifying times between them were: Charlotte Chapman, Peyten Newbury, Eve Carless, Emma H-Turner, Rebekah Chapman and Ben Jones.