Diss Otters had one of their most successful County Championship galas in recent years, when over the last three weekends a squad of 37 swimmers from the club took to the pool at the UEA Sportspark in Norwich.This gala is the biggest event most club swimmers take part in and qualification for its various events, from 50m to 1500m is the benchmark that swimmers look to achieve throughout the year.
Diss Otters competitors took part in 176 individual swims, converting 70 of those into finals reached or top 8 finishes. Out of those finals reached the club won 17 medals - 1 gold, 7 silver and 9 bronze as well as achieving many new personal best times.
Highlights of the gala included Elliott Barkway being crowned 12 year old boys butterfly champion, Finley Neve (with 6 medals) finishing 3rd overall in the 12 year old boys category, and Rosie Munnings receiving her Norfolk County Colours for representing the county in galas on 3 occasions.
Diss Otters squad and medals as follows - Thea Irvine, Matthew Tatum (1S,1B), Callum Blair, Harry Daly (1B), Matthew Munnings, Grace Cook, Lily-Anne Jones, Rosie Munnings (2S,1B), Imogen Grimes, Charlotte Gates, Finley Neve (3S,3B), Forbes Irvine, Oslo Chapman, Brandon Crisp, Kathryn Wood, Olivia Chapman, Noah Blair (1S,1B), Lucas Blair (1B), Ciaran Strike, Blossom Day, Faye Wilson, Amber Daly, Portia Bloomfield, Cassia Miller, Otillie Miller, Ella Townsend, Alex Jackson, Laurie Shearer, Angus Betts, Elliott Barkway (1G,1B), Heidi Noakes, Donald Perrin, Kyla Dalliston, Emily Rose, Harry Button, Olivia Shadbolt and Nathan Hunt.
Diss also took part in the County relay gala with an inexperienced young squad, and although ultimately finishing in sixth position there were lots of positives to be taken from the event into future years.
The next action the Otters will see is an exciting opportunity, with a squad of around 20 heading to the London 2012 Olympics Aquatic centre in Stratford for a 2 day gala at the start of March.