Sedgefield 75 had 21 swimmers competing at the Darlington Dander Gala on Sunday 7th October. It was the first gala after the summer break and the results were excellent.
One of the advantages of this gala is that swimmers of all ages and abilities can compete. That the Dolphin Centre is a superb aquatic facility is a factor that relates to good results.
The swimmers competed in a total of 98 events which meant it was a hectic day, superbly handled by our team managers Cheryl Price and coach Emma Craig. Sincere thanks to Julie Walker our Competition Secretary for all the pre-gala preparation. This enabled Chief Coach John Moore to have a restful day watching each swimmer in detail.
Swimmers competing were Ethan Craig, Mathew Wimbury, James Hodgson, Niall Coulthard, Thomas Curran, Jake Andrews, Liam Hughes, Mateusz Wilczynski, Oliver Turnbull, Lewis Turnbull, Charles McEwan, Robert Price, Charlotte Lee, Emma Price, Pippa Sanderson, Katherine Lee, Chloe Harding, Katelyn Craig, Leah Smith, Zoe Hodgson, Georgia Leybourne.
The competitive range was huge with Leah and Niall competing at National level and Lewis Turnbull training in the Development C3 Group and competing in his first gala.
Medal winners in session 1 were Niall Coulthard (15 years): Gold in 100m IM, Bronze in 50m Fly, 50m Breaststroke and 100m Backstroke. Mateusz Wilczynski (13 years): Gold in 50m Fly. Liam Hughes (11 years): Bronze in 50m Fly. Ethan Craig (10 years) Bronze in 50m Fly. Thomas Curran (9 years) won Gold in both 50m Fly and 100m Freestyle. Matthew Wimbury (13 years): Silver in 50m Breaststroke and Bronze in 100m Backstroke. Emma Price (10 years): Gold in 100m Breaststroke, 100m Fly and 50m Backstroke. Charlotte Lee (10 years): Silver in 100m Breaststroke. Chloe Harding (12 years) took the Silver medal in 50m Backstroke. Kathryn Lee (13 years) took the Silver medal in 100m Fly. Leah Smith (14 years) won Silver medals in both 100m Fly and 50m Freestyle.
Medal winners in session 2. Oliver Turnbull (12 years) won Bronze in 100m Breaststroke. Mateusz Wilczynski took the Silver in 100m Breaststroke and Bronze in 50m Freestyle and 100m Fly. Thomas Curran won Gold in both 50m Backstroke and 50m Freestyle. Niall Coulthard took the Gold medal in 50m Backstroke and 100m Fly. Emma Price won Gold in 100m Backstroke and Silver in 50m Fly. Leah Smith took the Gold medal in 50m Fly and the Silver for 100m Freestyle.
A grand total of 31 medals linked with many personal best times was without doubt a great club performance and one of which we could all be proud. However, the highlight of both sessions was the 8x50m mixed Freestyle team events, with a team in the 12 years and under as well as the 13 and over age groups. Although neither team won medals, to watch boys and girls of different age groups swim their hearts out for each other was very special.
Special thanks to our friends from Darlington ASC for putting on a really well-run and friendly gala
