Thame Swimming Club – the loudest squad in the gala!

THAME Swimming Club’s squad of 73 swimmers once again proudly represented the town over the weekend (Sept 19/20) when they took part in the annual BBAT Open Meet at Aqua Vale, Aylesbury, against neighbouring clubs Aylesbury & District Swimming Club, Didcot Barramundis and Bourne End Swimming Club.

Club spokesperson, Helen Williams, said: “The camaraderie amongst the squad was, as ever, awesome and if there was an award for the best cheering and supportive team, we most definitely would have won it. Didcot Barramundis retained the winners’ trophy, followed by Aylesbury with Thame coming in third, ahead of Bourne End. We were robbed after all the fantastic speeding tickets, medals and brilliant personal bests that were in evidence across the whole weekend.

“The gala was a first for many of our younger swimmers so a huge well done to them all for getting ‘stuck in’ and doing so well – here’s to many more successful galas ahead!”

Helen continued: “Whilst each and every swimmers was amazing there are a couple of notable call-outs:

· Elizabeth Humphreys, Douglas Birchall and Josh Williams for joining the elusive short course sub 30 50 Free Club, a great achievement by them all.

· Josh Williams for taking second place overall in the Top Boys Award –so close Josh!

· Each of the following swimmers for their fabulous PBs in certain events (25 seconds or more):

o Alice Daly: 23 seconds off 200 Free and 49 seconds off 400 Free

o Lauren Gibbs: 33 seconds off 200 IM, 28 seconds off 100 Fly and 48 seconds off 200 Free

o Tally Simms: 50 seconds off 200 Free

o Lucy Block: 30 seconds off 200 Free

o Elizabeth Humphreys: 55 seconds off 400 Free

o Jo Hewett: 45 seconds off 100 Fly

o Josh Williams: 28 seconds off 200 Breast and 26 seconds off 400 Free

o Ben Williams: 78 seconds off 200 Breast

o Douglas Birchall: 26 seconds off 100 Back; 38 seconds off 400 IM and 36 seconds off 200 IM

o Louis Withers: 61 seconds off 400 Free

o Henry Bell: 32 seconds off 100 Breast

· Kaycia Socrates for showing such determination and bravery in the 400 IM when her goggles came off during the the Fly leg – an amazing achievement.

· Well done to both Sophia and Guilia Fisher for both winning medals in their last gala for Thame Swimming Club (for now)!

“The gala ended on a massive explosion of screaming and shouting as the Canon relay took place. The Thame A team narrowly missed out on winning but ‘Wow!’, what a close race! Next year …!”