Diss Otters competed in 83 individual swims at a pre-Christmas competition at Stowmarket. On 17th & 18th December, 13 swimmers competed in a ‘No Frills’ meet. Although no medals were awarded, Diss Otters did themselves proud with many achieving considerable personal best times since the last competition just two weeks previously (Winter Wipeout at the UEA Sportspark).
Diss Otters achieved 57 PBs (69%) in total across age categories 9-14 and 17 (open). Notable mentions go to Sasha Spinks and Ethan Bailey who both knocked off an incredible 15 seconds from their times for the 400m and 200m freestyle respectively, Olivia Brewer who took off 14 seconds from her 100m breaststroke time, Amelia Bailey who slashed 9 seconds off her PB for 50m breaststroke and Liz Ferrier for taking off 8 seconds from her 50m butterfly time. Congratulations also to Olivia Brewer, Ashleigh Fall and Ruby Welch who achieved PBs in all their swims.
Each member of the team achieved a top 3 position with 32 (39%) gold, silver and bronze places in total. The team comprised Amelia Bailey (2 gold, 2 silver), Ethan Bailey (2 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze), Olivia Brewer (silver), Ashleigh Fall (gold, silver), Liz Ferrier (silver, bronze), Abbie Fletcher (bronze), Tayla Goodswen (silver), James Guerin (silver, 2 bronze), Nathan Hunt (gold, silver, 2 bronze), Daisy Lewis (silver), Hollie Richards (2 silver), Sasha Spinks (gold) and Ruby Welch (silver, 2 bronze).
18 teams competed in the event, and these were Basildon & Phoenix Swim Club, City of Cambridge, City of Peterborough, Colchester Swim Club, Deben Swim Club, Dunmow Atlantis, Felixstowe Swim Club, Hadleigh Dolphins, Leiston & District Swim Club, March Marlins, Mildenhall & District, Newmarket Swim Club, St Felix School Swim Club, Team Ipswich, Team Waveney Swim Club, West Suffolk Swim Club, Wisbech Swim Club and Diss Otters.
Head Coach, Laura Goodswen, said, “We took a small team to Stowmarket having only very recently competed at the UEA and it being so close to Christmas. Despite this, more than two-thirds of our swimmers managed to achieve PBs, which is simply fantastic.”