In the Boys 400M Freestyle 10 Year Old Ashville Pupil Lucas Waligora Set a New Club Record

In first weekend of April Harrogate District Swimming Club held their annual ‘Spa Town A & B Graded Swimming Meet which attracted entries from clubs throughout the north of England. Staffed and marshalled by Harrogate club volunteers the ‘Meet’ provides an opportunity for swimmers to compete with those of similar ability and post times to qualify for future county and regional events. Medals were awarded in a full range of age groups and in both the A & B categories with those competitors exceeding the A grade standard being awarded a coveted ‘Speeding Ticket’.

In the boys 400m freestyle 10 year old Ashville pupil Lucas Waligora set a new club record and was awarded a ‘Speeding Ticket’ and then repeated the feat in the 400m medley and 50m breaststroke events. Not to be outdone in the 200m butterfly team mate 12 year old Nathan Bunkle also was awarded a ‘Speeding Ticket’ with a powerful performance. In the 50m butterfly sprint 12 year old Holly Pickering showed the progress she has made this season and broke the Harrogate club record finishing first with another ‘Speeding Ticket’.

Finally in the younger age-groups 9 year olds Connie Milburn and Jacob Brown were placed first in their respective 50m backstroke events and also awarded ‘Speeding Tickets’.

Head Coach Ian Spencer was delighted with the number of medals won by local swimmers as the club seeks to strengthen and develop its performance base. Gold medallists included Louisa Jacklyn, Jessica Head, Kate Lewis, Ed Wilson, Jenny Law, Luke Deighton, Jordan Briggs-DeBeere, Tanthai Bennett, Gemma Deighton, Evie Palmer-Jones, Ewa Hardaker, William Wilson, Joe Moore, Finlay Waligora, Sassy Palfreeman, Isabelle Lepine, Amy Wilkinson, Anna Smith, Lucy Cape, Oliver Wilson, Louisa Ibberson, Thomas Plant, Alicia Hook, Cameron Mackinnon, Max Walker, Georgina Houseman and Lily Walker.

The following weekend at the Richmond Dales Open Meet in Leeds Anna Marley 14yrs won gold medals in the 100m backstroke, 200m breaststroke, 400m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and 200m medley events.

Luke Deighton 13yrs won a gold medal in the gruelling1500m freestyle in a personal best time and to maintain domestic harmony brother and sister Joe and Emma Moore, aged 14rs and 13yrs respectively, both won gold medals in the 200m breaststroke and 50m freestyle events. Other medallists were John Wright, Lily Walker, Jessica Head, Ed Wilson and Max Walker.

David W Porter

Press Officer

April 2016