News

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.

3 team members from our performance squad were in action at the Swim England East Region Short Course Regional Championships 2021 between 5^th-7^th November at Luton, competing in 9 events across the weekend.

Emily Rose competing in the 50m Freestyle. Thea Irvine competing in the 50m Freestyle and 200m Breaststroke. Matthew Tatum competing in the 200m IM, 100m backstroke, 200m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 100m IM and 200m backstroke.

Emily Rose was electric in her 50m Freestyle finishing in a time of 0:29.41, with 20 swimmers finishing within a tenth of a second of her time it really was a closely fought swim.

Matthew Tatum was in action in the 100m Backstroke, again a very close finish with 13 swimmers all within a second of each other at the wall. Matthew also achieved a massive PB in his 50m Backstroke with a 0:29.67 finish, very well done.

Thea Irvine put in a powerful performance in her 200m Breaststroke with a great finish in a tough age group at Regional level.

 

3 of our Master’s were in action at the Swim England NATIONAL MASTERS Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield between 29^th and 31^st October.

Competing in 11 events they secured 6 top 8 finishes.

Emily was on top form and achieved PBs in all her races. This was her debut at a Nationals event as a Master and one to remember!

Adam kindly remined me he and sally have been doing this for over 30 years so PBs are a little harder to find, his last PB being in 2008.

Adam Lelan – 100 Breastroke (11th), 400 Free (8th), 400IM (Silver), 800Free (5th)

Sally Lelan – 100 Breastroke (Bronze), 100 Back (GOLD), 200 Breastroke (Silver),

Emily Rose – 100 Free (25^th), 100 Fly (17^th), 50 Free (22^nd), 50 Fly (31^st)

Here they are pictured with the president of Swim England Mr Ian Mackenzie

If you are interested in joining our Master’s squad please do get in touch via headcoach@dissotters.co.uk

It truly was a wonderful “away day” at our DISS Open Meet on Sunday 17^th at the UEA Sportspark where we welcomed teams from City of Norwich, Deben, Great Yarmouth, Leiston, Newmarket, Norfolk Vikings, Norwich swans, Rochford and St Felix with swimmers competing across 18 events.

All of our Junior and Performance squads were in action achieving a staggering 107 top 8 places. A total of 92 PBs were achieved across 188 swims.

Medals going to: Donald Perrin (3xS), (2xB), (1xG). Forbes Irvine (1xG), (2xB), (1xS). Damian Lemke (2xB). Finley Neve (1xS), (5xG). Jessica Freeman (1xG), (2xS). Amber Daly (1xB). Noah Blair (1xB). Callum Blair (1XS), (1xB). Nathan Hunt (1xS). Freya Reed (2xS), (1xB). Elliot Barkway (1xS). Faye Wilson (1xS). Thea Irvine (1xS).

Finley Neve and Forbes Irvine dominated the boys aged 13 100M Fly coming in First and Second respectively.

Whilst the 15/16 year old boys achieved a 1, 2, 3 finish in the 100M Freestyle. Callum Blair (G), Nathan Hunt (S) and Damian Lemke (B).

Thea Irvine also broke the girls aged 16 100M Breaststroke club record.