The County Championships continued at Horfield, Bristol over the weekend of 27 & 28 February. Despite the pool feeling more like a bath on Saturday morning, and a few of our senior swimmers sick, GCSC were on winning form to produce an excellent set of results across the board.

5 new County Best Age Group records were set by GCSC swimmers over the weekend. We were represented in every Championship Final and achieved a top 3 medal place in 11 out of 12 of the finals. We have a total of 11 County Champions, 9 Senior County Champions and 9 Junior County Champions. Unofficial total Age Group medal count (up to Session 8) stands at a staggering 201 medals (91 Gold, 59 Silver, 51 Bronze). In comparison GCSC achieved 186 total Age Group medals at last years Counties. We have already surpassed last years total with another weekend of racing ahead (15/16 Mar @ GL1).
Current Championship Final medal count for GCSC is 39 (11 Gold, 13 Silver, 15 Bronze).

Callum Berry cleaned up for the 9 year old boys with 3 Golds (200m Fly, 100IM and 50m Back). For the 10 year old boys, Alex Seymour had a fantastic weekend winning 4 Golds (200m Fly, 100IM, 50m Back & 400m Free). Alex also set 3 new County Age Group records for 200m Fly in a time of 2:53.44, 50m Back in a time of 36.37 (both records set by O Putland of Hereford in 2004) and 400m Free in 5:18.53 (a record set by Danny Pirret of Soundwell in 2009). In the same age group, Joe Fountain (10) won silver in the 200m Fly, and bronze in the 100IM and 400 Free. To complete the trio, Matthew Munden (10) won silver in the 400m Free and 50m Back.

For the 11 year old boys, Aiden Berry won 2 Golds (200m Fly, 100IM) and 2 Silvers (50m Back, 400m Free) while Will Carter (11) won silver in the 200m Fly.

Medals continued for the 12 year old boys with Craig Munden grabbing 2 Golds (50m Back, 100m Back) and 3 bronze (100IM, 100m Fly and 400m Free). Jordan Lee (12) secured a silver (100m Back) and a bronze (50m Back). Meanwhile Kieran Naylor (13) won bronze in the 200m Breast.

For the 13 year old girls Alice Price won 2 Golds (200m Back, 200IM) and a bronze (100m Free). Alice also qualified for the 200IM and 200m Back Championship Finals finishing in 5th and 6th respectively. In the same age group Holly Whitton (13) secured 2 Golds (50m Fly, 100 Free) and a bronze (400 Free) and then went onto the 50m Fly Final finishing 5th. Sally Fitzpatrick (13) won Gold in the 200m Breast and went on to place 5th in the Final. It was quite an achievement for all three to qualify for a Championship Final at such a young age.

In the 50m Fly, Sophie Brown (14) won gold and set a new Age Group County record in a time of 30.52 (a record set by R Harry of Soundwell in 1998). Sophie went onto the final to secure gold and become the County and Junior County Champion. In the same event, Lucy Robinson (14) and Francyne Hardy (15) won bronze and Rebecca Johnstone (16) won Gold in their age groups.
In the 400m Free Aimee Carter (15) and Rebecca Johnstone (16) won Gold in their age groups. Kirsty Hepburn (15) and Georgia Fuller (14) won silver and Sophie Brown (14) and Holly Whitton (13) took bronze. Aimee and Georgia competed in the final to finish in Bronze and 4th place.

The GCSC girls dominated in the 200m Backstroke. Alice Price (13), Sophie Brown (14), Kirsty Hepburn (15) and Tracey Kidner (18) won gold in their age groups. All four girls qualified for the final with Tracey storming to victory in an excellent time of 2:16.73 to become County and Senior County Champion and also securing a National Qualifying Time (NQT). Sophie took silver to become Junior County Champion and also broke the County Age Group record in a time of 2:21.83 (a record set by E Pollard of Thornbury in 2005). Kirsty won bronze and Alice placed 6th.

In the 100m free, Holly Whitton (13) and Kirsty Hepburn (15) won gold, Sophie Brown (14), Aimee Carter (15), Rebecca Johnstone (16) and Hannah Montague (18) won silver and Alice Price (13) and Georgia Fuller (14) took bronze. Kirsty, Rebecca, Georgia and Sophie qualified for the final with Kirsty winning bronze to be the Junior County Champion.

In the 200IM, Alice Price (13), Sophie Brown (14) and Aimee Carter (15) won gold. Kirstie Hepburn (15) won silver while Georgia Fuller (14) and Rebecca Johnstone (16) won bronze. Aimee went onto to win gold in the final to become the County and Junior County Champion. Sophie won silver and Alice and Georgia finished in 5th and 6th place.

The Fitzpatrick sisters were on fine form in the 200m breast with Sally (13) and Emma (16) both winning gold in their age group. Aimee Carter (15) also won gold in her age group. All 3 girls qualified for the final with Emma taking gold, the County and Senior County Champion title, Aimee taking bronze and Sally finishing in 5th place.

James (19) and Dan Broady (16) were weighed down with medals, plaques and trophies over the course of the weekend. James won gold in the 200IM and the 200m breast and went onto win gold for both events in the final to be County and Senior County Champion. He also won silver in the 400m free. Dan won 5 golds (50m fly, 400m free, 200m back, 200IM and 200m breast) and a bronze (100m free). Dan qualified for the 400m free, 200IM and 200m breast finals winning silver in the 200IM and 200m breast. Dan also secured a NQT in the 200IM in a time of 2:11.60.

In the 50m fly, Tom Grime (16) won silver while Alex Matthews (17) and Dan Willis (19) won bronze. Dan and Alex competed in the final finishing in 6th and 8th place.

Luke Bridgman (21) won gold in the 400m free, bronze in the 200m back and 5th in the 100m free. Luke went onto the final in all 3 events taking silver in the 400m free and bronze in the 100m free.

Jake Michaels (14) won gold in the 100m free while Liam Lodge (16) won silver.

Dan Willis (18) won silver in the 200m back and bronze in the 200IM. Dan went on to win bronze in the Championship final for 200m back.

There were many more excellent results for GCSC swimmers in terms of Personal Best Times (PBs). The team spirit was amazing, poolside etiquette and behaviour exemplary and a credit to the club.

Our sincere thanks go to our dedicated coaching team - Graham Brookhouse, Andy Osborne and Jane Seymour, who have worked so hard to bring out the best in each and every swimmer.

The last sessions of the County Championship take place on the weekend of 15/16 March at GL1. Individual events on Saturday followed by the team relays on Sunday. The atmosphere should be electric and an opportunity to finish off the Counties in style to remain the top club in Gloucestershire.