Weston-super-Mare Easter Open Meet

Exeter was represented by a handful of swimmers at the Easter Open Meet, Weston-super-Mare, on 19-20 April.

Among many fast times, there were victories for Harrison Yarnold (15) in 100m and 200m free, while Matt Ramsay (13) won the same events in his age group. Harrison added a third place in 50m back, and Matt took 2nd in 50m free and 3rd in 200m IM. Sam Criddle (13) was 3rd in 200m free. Rebecca Gibbins (12) finished 3rd in 100m free, with Olivia Burrow (11) 3rd in 50m back.

Devon Interclub Gala

Devon Interclub Gala 2014. Runners-up: Exeter City. Photograph © Richard Davies

The Devon Interclub Gala at Plymouth's Life Centre on Sunday 13 April represented the culmination of a series of county events. Celebrating its 120th anniversary, Devon ASA took the opportunity also to showcase other water sports, including water polo and synchronised swimming (for which Exeter Synchro gave a farewell performance).

Swimming got underway after a rendition of the national anthem and a parade by the 12 participating clubs. Exeter competed superbly throughout, with top-3 finishes in 29 of the 37 events, and demonstrated strength in depth with second place in each of the relay events. It was always going to be hard to challenge the reigning national champions, but Exeter made Plymouth Leander fight to the end, and kept the gap to single digits until beyond the halfway stage. The final result was a comfortable second place, well ahead of some strong competition from across the county.

Among many excellent swims, there were individual wins for Milly Kendall (50m free & 50m fly), Tom Downs (100m fly), Liam White (100m back) and Dominic Wooldridge (100m fly).

Weekend Round-Up: Plymouth, Millfield, Sheffield

Exeter swimmers were competing across the country last weekend. Many of the senior swimmers made the trip to Sheffield for one of the toughest long-course galas of the year. Against powerful competition they performed exceptionally well, achieving personal bests and, in some cases, qualifying times for the national championships which will be held in the same pool this summer. Dominic Wooldridge dominated the 15-and-over butterfly events, winning the treble with gold over 50m, 100m and 200m. Emily Eveling (12) took medley double-gold over 200m and 400m, with a bronze in 200m freestyle. There was also a bronze for Aliyah-Mai Webb (13) in the 400m IM, while Katie Townsend (14, 50m back), Elliot Svensson (10, 50m fly), Olivia Passmore (11, 50m breast) and Liam White (15, 50m back) all came back from Yorkshire with silvers.

At the Devon Sprints, Victoria Bishop (16) was the star performer, with gold in each of her four 50m races. Hannah Guest (14) took silver in 50m breast.

The Three Towers long-course gala at Millfield gave the club's younger swimmers some hard competition against leading clubs in the region, but with 29 top-three finishes they featured prominently throughout. The Exeter medals were divided between 8 swimmers: Olivia Annunziata (12yo: 1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze), Grace James (11yo: 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Justine Rannou (10yo: 3 silver, 1 bronze), Milly Rawles (11yo: 2 silver, 2 bronze), Rebecca Gibbins (12yo: 2 gold, 1 bronze), Luca Riezzo (10yo: 3 silver), Tea Jones (12 yo: 1 gold, 1 silver), and Amelia Ashelford (10yo: 2 gold, 1 bronze).

The Devon Interclub this coming weekend will mark the end of the county age-group championships, after which attention will turn to the club's jointly-organised Cobexe May meet at Hengrove and the Western Counties competitions.

Devon Relay Gala: Gold Medal Winners

Here are eleven of our gold medal teams from the Devon Relay Gala:

Girls 13-14 4x50m Freestyle Relay: Sadia Hallam, Mia Corcoran, Katie Townsend, Aliyah-Mai Webb

Girls 15-16 4x50m Medley Relay: Rhiannon Loveman, Rebecca Anderson, Victoria Bishop, Millie Price

Boys 15-16 4x50m Medley Relay: Tom Downs, James Wamsley, Joe Crispin, Liam White

Girls 13-14 4x50m Medley Relay: Mia Corcoran, Aliyah-Mai Webb, Sadia Hallam, Katie Townsend

Boys 15-16 4x50m Freestyle RelayFreddie Fearnley, James Wamsley, Joe Crispin, Liam White

Women's Championship 4x100m Freestyle Relay: Rebecca Anderson, Rhiannon Loveman, Sammie Gray, Georgia Cotterill

Men's Championship 4x100 Freestyle Relay: Freddie Fearnley, Joe Crispin, Dominic Wooldridge, Liam White

Girls 11-12 4x50m Medley Relay: Milly Kendall, Tea Jones (Olivia Burrow & Rebecca Gibbins missing)

Women's Championship 4x100m Medley Relay: Rhiannon Loveman, Rebecca Anderson, Sammie Gray, Millie Price

Men's Championship 4x100m Medley Relay: Dominic Wooldridge, James Wamsley, Joe Crispin, Liam White

Girls 11-12 4x50m Freestyle Relay: Rebecca Gibbins, Milly Kendall, Olivia Passmore, Olivia Annunziata

Dawlish Ribbon Gala

After Exeter's successes at the Devon Age Group Championships, attention turned to the club's younger and (in some cases) less experienced swimmers. The Dawlish Ribbon Gala, for children 12 years and under, gave many swimmers the chance to compete against other clubs for the first time.

Nineteen of Exeter's swimmers achieved at least one top 3 finish, eleven of whom took gold. Owen Hopwood (12) won all five of his races, a feat almost matched by Tomas Piskac (9) with four golds and a bronze. Other multiple winners included Eleanor Brandon (12) with two golds, and Alexander Cole (10) with three. Adam Bagshaw (10), Millie Brunskill (7), Annabel Courtney (10), Anna Czipri (9), Rosie Kendall (8), James McCarthy (11) and Emilia Raymond (11) won one gold each. Among the many silvers, special mention goes to Cameron Duncan (12) for finishing second in each of his three races, and to Sam Jelley (11) for his three second-places.

The Ribbon Gala was a great opportunity for swimmers to gain experience of competition, giving them plenty of close racing and readying them for exciting challenges ahead. There were terrific performances in all age groups and strokes, suggesting that the future of the club is in good hands.

P.S. The following swimmers set a new gala record: Owen Hopwood (Boys 12yo 50m free); Eleanor Brandon (Girls 12yo 50m fly and 100m IM); Alex Cole (Boys 10yo 50m fly, 50m free, and 100m IM); Rosie Kendall (Girls 8yo 25m fly); Tomas Piskac (Boys 9yo 50m free and 100m IM); Millie Brunskill (Girls 7 and under 25m free).

Devon Relay Gala

Rhiannon, Rebecca, Sammy, Millie

Exeter swimmers dominated the Devon Relay Gala at the Life Centre in Plymouth last weekend. With 20 medals up for grabs, they won 12 golds, 2 silvers and 4 bronzes against the county’s strongest clubs, including the reigning national club champions.

Rebecca, Milly, Olivia P., Olivia A.

In the Open Championships, swum over 400 metres, Exeter’s women and men won both the freestyle relay and the medley relay. Several age-group teams, swimming 4x50m, also achieved the double: the girls’ superiority made them two-time county champions at 11-12, 13-14 and 15-16 year-old ages, with the 9-10 year-old team taking bronze.

 

Alec, Tim, Harry, Dan

Boys struck double gold at the 15-16 age, two bronzes in 13-14, two silvers in 9-10, and bronze in 11-12.