This was our first away gala of the year and we took a squad of 20 swimmers to the City of Norwich Long Course open Gala on the weekend of the 5th & 6th March 2022 at the UEA Sports Park.
It was a little different again this weekend with no pool warm-up, so we were doing our best dynamic stretches in the sports hall before each session. Our young squad were not phased and are really growing in confidence with each Gala. The cheering section was led by Ben, Matthew and Jon on pool deck and it was lovely to have the parents back in the gallery.
Our squad consisted of Jon Barber, Eleanor Godbold, Grace Cook, Olly Shadbolt, Laurie Shearer, Mya Sidwell, Ella Townsend, Emillia Clifford, Elizabeth Ferrier, Daisy Lewis, Freya Reed, Hollie Richards, Hebe Shearer, Olivia Brewer, Ben Eastwood, James Guerin, Sasha Spinks, Damian Lemke and Matthew Tatum
Participating in 104 individual swims with 43 top 8 finishes and 73 PBs against accepted entry times.
Daisy Lewis and Hebe Shearer dropped 8 seconds and 15 seconds off their 100m Backstroke respectively. Grace Cook took on the 400IM, a great swim after a re-start, smashing her PB by 40 seconds and finishing well inside the top 8 and Matthew Tatum had a great swim and a well-earned PB on his 50M Fly.
Hollie Richards took Silver in the 50M Backstroke. Freya Reed took Bronze in the 200M Backstroke. Ben Eastwood took the Bronze in the 50M Freestyle. Matthew Tatum achieved Gold in the 100M Backstroke, Silver in the 200IM and Silver in the 400M Freestyle. Laurie Shearer took Bronze in the 100M Breaststroke and Bronze in the 200M Backstroke with a 12 second PB. In addition, our Finalists / top 8 finishers were Ella Townsend, Elizabeth Ferrier, James Guerin, Grace Cook, Damien Lemke, Mya Sidwell and Emillia Clifford.