News

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 5^th & 6^th 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.

 

Two of our most experience squad members visited the Wales National Pool, Swansea on Saturday 5^th and Sunday 6^th of March to compete in the Swim Wales Masters Long Course Championships of 2022.

Adam and Sally Lelean were in great company with 41 British records, 11 European records and 5 World records being set throughout the meet.

It was a masterclass in swimming by Sally who won Gold in the 200IM. Gold in the 50M Breaststroke and Gold in the 200M Breaststroke. Gold in the 200M Backstroke, Gold in the 100M Backstroke and Bronze in the 50M Backstroke.

Adam was also on top form taking the Gold in the 200M Fly and Silver in the 100M Fly.

Both Sally and Adam have supported our club enormously over the many years they have been involved with Diss Otters Swimming Club and we send them huge congratulations on their achievements.

Diss Otters once again took to the water to compete in the Norfolk County Championships 2022 that had been delayed from earlier in the year. Following the sad event at the UEA Sports Park on Thursday 27th January the event was cancelled and Norfolk Swimming have worked tirelessly to bring the championships back at incredibly short notice.

Our special thanks go to Liam Harvey the Championship Secretary and our very own Head Coach, to Stewart Murray, Chris Galer, Tracey Spinner, Keith Belton and Karen Woodhouse. All the Parent Volunteers, Marshals, Coaches and Team Managers without their hard work and dedication this event simply wouldn’t happen.

Our young intrepid squad of 27 swimmers from the club took to the pool at the UEA Sportspark in Norwich on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th February. Due to the shortened schedule the weekend certainly felt a little different to the norm. There were no Finals, Relays or Skins events but we are hopeful these will be able to go ahead later in the year. 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 118 individual swims over the weekend, achieving a staggering 85 PBs with 66 of those into finals reached or top 8 finishes. The club won 16 medals in total including 6 golds, 5 silvers and 5 bronze. Our swimmers were Ben Eastwood (Junior Captain), Olly Shadbolt (Junior captain), Thea Irvine (Senior captain), Finley Neve (Senior Captain), Ella Goodswen, Tayla Goodswen, Grace Cook, Ella Townsend, Laurie Shearer, Hebe Shearer, Jon Barber, Matthew Tatum, Jessica Freeman, Fay Wilson, Amber Daly, Noah Blair, Damian Lemke, Olivia Brewer, Emillia Clifford, Daisy Lewis, Freya Reed, Emily Rose, Elliot Barkway, Hollie Richards, Forbes Irvine, Kayla Dalliston and Roman Joseph. Qualifiers also included Donald Perrin and Gus Betts.

Special mention must go to Laurie Shearer for taking on the 400IM, no mean feet in this event and coming away with a cracking PB to boot. Hollie Richards for 50m Breaststroke, leading her heat in a fantastic swim and Finley Neve for coming third in the overall 200m Breaststroke and third in the 400m Freestyle 16 years and under Championships, a great result.

Medals going to Finley Neve (5G, 3S & 1B), Ben Eastwood (1G & 1S), Elliot Barkway (1B), Noah Blair (1S & 1B), Damien Lemke (1B) and Matthew Tatum (1B). In addition, our top 8 finishes / Finalists were Ella Goodswen, Grace Cook, Ella Townsend, Laurie Shearer, Jon Barber, Amber Daly, Jessica freeman, Freya Reed, Forbes Irvine, Thea Irvine, Fay Wilson, Kyla Dalliston and Emily Rose.

 

 

The coaching staff, committee members and parents at Diss Otters would like to say a huge congratulations to our 27 swimmers who qualified for the Norfolk County Championships 2022.

Our 27 strong squad includes Finlay Neve, Emily Rose, Matthew Tatum, Hebe Shearer, Laurie Shearer, Jessica Freeman, Ella Goodswen, Tayla Goodswen, Grace Cook, Ella Townsend, Thea Irvine, Forbes Irvine, Donald Perrin, Ben Eastwood, Noah Blair, Jon Barber, Roman Joseph, Damian Lemke, Kyla Dalliston, Freya Reed, Elliot Barkway, Faye Wilson, Amber Daly, Angus Betts, Emilia Clifford, Daisy Lewis and Hollie Richards.

Our relay squads for the competition include Jon barber, Finley Neve, Elliot Barker, Forbes Irvine, Olly Shadbolt, Amber Daly, Grace Cook, Ella Townsend, Donald Perrin, Pascal Van Enckevort, Roman Joseph, Noah Blair, Mya Sidwell, Kayla Dalliston, Ella Goodswen, Lily Ellis, Portia Bloomfield, Thea Irvine, Jodi Brown, Tayla Goodswen, Ashleigh Fall, Freya Reed, Jessica Freeman, Ben Eastwood and Matthew Tatum.

Due to the very sad incident at the UEA Sport Park on Thursday 27^th January the Championships have had to be cancelled and will not be going ahead as planned on either weekends of the 5^th & 6^th and 12^th &13^th February. Our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends at this very difficult time and also with the staff and lifeguards at the Sports Park.

We are staying hopeful that the championships will be able to be rescheduled and will bring you updates as we can.

 

The annual Norfolk County Championships kicked off over the weekend (22^nd & 23^rd January) at the UEA Sport Park long course pool with both Boys and Girls 1500m and 800m events being decided.

 

Team Otters couldn’t have started any better. Represented by Matthew Tatum in the 17 years and over category and Finley Neve in the 14 years age group. Swimming in the 800m event Sunday morning, they both achieved top 8 finishes with Finley Neve coming away with the Norfolk age group title and gold medal. Amazing swimming by both competitors in a very tough event.

 

We have more of our team in action over the next 2 championship weekends taking place on the 5^th & 6^th February and again 12^th & 13^th February.

As a small but mighty swimming team we have fielded a strong squad and relay teams and very much look forward to reporting back on our successes.

Diss Otters hosted our first December “Santa’s Splash and Dash” Open meet on Sunday 12^th December at the UEA Sports Park, where we welcomed teams from West Norfolk, Thetford, Dereham, City of Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Norwich Swan, City of Ely, Norfolk Vikings, Team Ipswich and Wisbech competing across 18 events.

All of our Junior and performance squads were in action with ages ranging from 9 years old to 20 years old, with some swimmers competing away from our home pool for the very first and they certainly went home buzzing from the experience.

Our 25 strong team consisted of Damian Lemke, Matthew Tatum, Finlay Neve, Olivia Brewer, Tayla Goodswen, Ella Goodswen, Freya Reed, Eleanor Goldbold, Mya Sidwell, Olly Shadbolt, Abigail Fletcher, Elizabeth Ferrier, Jessica Freeman, Grace Cook, Kyla Dalliston, Jodi Brown, Portia Bloomfield, Pascal Van Enckevort, James Gurin, Benjamin Eastwood, Donald Perrin, Noah Blair, Jon Barber, Seren Jones and Sasha Spinks achieving 64 top 8 places. A total of 61 PBs were achieved across 111 swims and those all-important last minute county times were secured.

Medals going to Finlay Neve 200m Free (G), 50m Free (G), 100m Free (G), 50m Fly (G). Matthew Tatum 200m Free (G), 50m Free (G). Damian Lemke 100m Fly (B), 100m Breast (S). Benjamin Eastwood 50m Back (G), 50m Free (B), 50m Breast (S). Noah Blair 50m Back (S), 50m Free (G), 100m Back (S), 100m Free (S), 50m Fly (B). Jon Barber 50m Back (G), 50m Free (G), 100m Back (G), 50m Breast (S), 100m Free (G). Jessica Freeman 100m Free (B). Donald Perrin 100m Back (S), 50m Free (B), 50m Breast (B). Freya Reed 20m Fly (B), 50m Back (S). Grace Cook 50m Fly (S), 200m Free (G), 50m Free (S). Taylor Goodswen 50m Back (B). Ella Goodswen 100m Breast (B).

Noah Blair and Jon Barber brought home 5 medals a Piece. Grace Cook was exceptional leading from the start on the 200m freestyle, taking 13 seconds off her PB, winning the overall gold for her age group. Olivia Brewer was on fire taking a whopping 22 seconds off her 50m back to finish in the top 8 and Pascal Van Enckevort was on a mission when he swam the 100m back taking 21 seconds off to also finish in the top 8.