18/10/12…Thame swimming club makes an early season splash!

THAME Swimmers started their new competitive season recently with two victories in a week. The first was at the BBAT Meet on Sunday, September 23, when swimmers from Thame were against swimmers from Bourne End SC, Didcot Barramundis SC and Aylesbury District SC.

For the first time in the BBATs three year history, Thame won the Top Club trophy beating Didcot Barramundis into second place. Sixty Thame swimmers took part in the event and all but two put in at least 1 Personal Best.

In addition there was a strong haul of medals, with ‘Golden boy of the event for Thame, Nacho Mendi, achieved one county time and booked his place at the 2013 County Championships in the 50m Freestyle, and took home six GOLD medals as well!

Kazia Coleman had sustained an injury playing football the previous day but still turned out for the event, taking a bronze medal before withdrawing due to the injury. Helen Malkin took home two silver medals on the day ? her 16th Birthday. Josh Williams insisted on getting to the gala to swim after being delayed due to a family crisis and as a result, Team Thame got another 36 points as Josh took Gold in the 100m and the IM, and Bronze in the 50m Freestyle as well as playing a key role in the final cannon relay team.

Other big medal hauls included Susannah Smith taking six medals in total (four Silver and two Gold), and the Goetz boys (Jamie and Tom) taking nine and eight medals each respectively (both with two Bronze, the rest being Silver). Another ‘Golden girl’ was the girls’ squad captain, Rachel Newton, with four Golds and two Silver medals.

The BBAT Top Club shield is now on display in the club trophy cabinet at Thame Leisure Centre.

Just seven days later, on Saturday, September 29, the squad were in action again at the Leighton Buzzard Swimming Club (LBSC) Team Gala, swimming against teams from LBSC, Modernians and Letchworth Swimming Clubs. Various 50m, 100m and relay events for the age groups were fought over throughout the evening and there was much support from the balcony from the good turnout of Thame parents. There was a good smattering of PBs and at the end, the squad won the event by just one point, beating the hosts LBSC into second place.