The opening weekend saw Wigan BEST swimmers collect a fantastic 53 medals across all the age groups. On form BEST swimmers came away with 18 gold – 20 silver and 15 bronze.
In the 10 / 11 years age group Poppy Johnson and Gracie Smith collected 4 of the clubs gold’s between them. 10 year-old Poppy took the girls 400 Freestyle in 5:41 and the 200 Back 3:06 with Gracie winning the 100m Butterfly and 200 Individual medley in 1:27 and 3:04 respectfully. Gracie went on to take silver in the 200m Breaststroke with Ellen Jones taking a brilliant bronze in the same event. Olivia Knox fought hard in the 200m Individual Medley coming away with another silver for the club. The 200m backstroke saw another silver added to the total with Camilla Holland pushing all the way.
Jorja Howard and James Vaughan started their busy County campaign by taking 7 medals between them for the 12 year-olds. Jorja opened her account in fine form winning the girls 400m Freestyle in 5:17.6 and backing this excellent swim with silver in the girls 200m Backstroke. James commenced his programme with a strong swim in the 200m Backstroke taking silver. James added to his opening success taking superb bronzes in the 200m Breaststroke, Medley.
The clubs 13 year-olds continued the success and brilliant performances with Evie Cutter powering her way to victory in the girls 200m Backstroke in a winning time of 2:34.3. Further medals came Evie’s way with a silver in 100m Butterfly and bronze in the 200m Medley and 400m Freestyle. Further silver came the 13 year-olds way with Alice Holt in the 200m Breaststroke taking the medal in 2:50.9. Alfie Owen and Matthew Sawers gave the boys total a boost with Alfie taking silver in the 200m Breaststroke and 200m Medley and bronze in the 100m Butterfly. Matthew coming home with the silver in the 400m Freestyle and added a bronze to his collection in the 200m Breaststroke.
3 medals came from the 14 year-olds from Josh Hayes and Isabelle Liptrot. Josh made sure of gold in the boys 200m backstroke when he touch home in 2:29.1 and Isabelle made sure the boys did not take all the glory with a fantastic performance in winning the girls event in 2:25.5 and followed this with bronze in the 200m Medley.
Lydia Swindell continued the 200m Backstroke success taking the top spot in the 15 years age group in a winning time of 2:25.7 with Leila Morris taking silver. Further silvers came from Dan Haynes in the boys 400 Freestyle. Chloe Ridge came away with 3 excellent medals taking silver in the 400m Freestyle 200m Medley and 200m Breaststroke with Ella Wadsworth taking the bronze.
The 16 year-olds from Wigan BEST added a further 12 medals to the total with Sam Grimes on winning form in three events taking the number 1 spot in the 200m Medley and the 100m Butterfly. His 3rd gold came in the 400m Freestyle where Wigan BEST dominated with Dan Jones taking silver and Charlie Collins bronze. Further bronze for Charlie came in the 100m Butterfly and then went one better in the 200m medley edging in to silver. For the girls Aimee Crompton-Hesford showed her talents when she powered her way to victory in the 200m Backstroke which meant that WIgan BEST took gold in the 10/11 years, 13 years,14 years 15 years and 16 years girls. The 12th medal for the 16 years was brought home by Anna Healey in the 200m Breaststroke.
Wigan BEST seniors were on form over the weekend with Rachel Hornby powering her way to victory in the 200m Medley, 200m Breaststroke and 400m Freestyle with team mate Olivia Sheehan taking the 400m silver. Rachel added a bronze to her 2022 collection in the 100m Butterfly. The 18th gold came In the mens 200m Backstroke when Matthew Tinkler became county champion when he taking the gold in 2:16.
The swimmers are now looking forward to next weekend and the Championships continue and we hope to see them surpass this weeks brilliant performance.
