A very packed GL1 was the venue of Sessions 1-4 of the County Champs over the weekend of 6 & 7 February. A fantastic weekend of racing saw GCSC swimmers produce some excellent results across all age groups.

We were represented in every Championship Final event, winning at least one top three place in 11 out of 14 finals, a true measure of our success.

51 GCSC swimmers achieved top 8 place medals showing the current talent and depth of the club. Our youngest swimmers enjoyed the experience of competing in their first Counties.

Starting with the Junior Squad, Callum Berry stole the show for the 9 year old boys winning 4 golds (50 free, 200 free, 50 fly, 200IM) and a silver (50 breast). The 10 year old boys dominated their events with Alex Seymour securing 5 golds (50 free, 200 free, 50 fly, 200IM, 400IM). Alex also achieved a County Age Group Best Time (AGBT) for the 400IM in 6:14.72 (an impressive 28 seconds faster than the previous record holder in 2009). In the same age group Joe Fountain won 3 silvers (50 fly, 200IM, 400IM) and Matthew Munden a silver (200 free) and 2 bronze (200IM, 400IM). Alex, Joe and Matthew stepped onto the podium in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in both the 200IM and 400IM.

The 11 year old boys followed suit with Aiden Berry winning 4 golds (50 free, 200 free, 200IM, 400IM) and a silver (50 fly). Will Carter (11) won 3 silvers (200 free, 200IM, 400IM) and a bronze (50 fly). Jack Bartman (11) won gold in the 50 breast and 4th in the 200 free. In the 12 year old boys, Craig Munden won 3 silvers (50 free, 200 free, 50 fly) and a bronze (400IM). For the 11 year old girls Megan Hartery placed 5th in the 50 fly, 6th in the 200IM and 8th in the 50 free , Ashling Keeble came 7th in the 50 breast while Emma Williams placed 8th in the 200 free.

The Senior squad were equally impressive. James Broady (19) won 5 golds in the age group events (50 and 100 breast, 200 fly and 200 & 400IM) and went onto to win 4 golds at the Championship Finals to become County Champion for 50 & 100 breast, 200 & 400IM and silver for 200 Fly. James also broke the County 400IM record (held by Andy Rolley of Gloucester City since 1986) in a time of 4:31.11. Younger brother Dan Broady (16) won 5 golds (50 back, 50 & 100 breast, 100 & 400IM), a silver (50 free) and bronze (200 fly). Dan went onto to win 3 silvers (400IM, 50 breast, 100IM) and 2 bronze (100 breast, 200 fly) at the Championship finals.

In the 400IM Liam Lodge (16) won silver, Dan Willis (19) won bronze and Tom and Mark Howells both placed 4th. Liam qualified for the Championship Final and finished 5th.

Tom Howells (16) won gold and Tom Grime (16) won bronze in the 200 fly age group events with fellow swimmers Alex Matthews (17) and Dan Willis (19) also winning silver in their age groups. 5 out of 8 swimmers in the 200 fly championship final were from GCSC and placed from 2nd to 6th place.

In the 50 free Liam Lodge (16) won gold in a time of 24.68 securing a NQT in the process. Paul Endacott (19) won bronze and Jake Michaels (14) won silver in their age groups. Scott Howarth (15) and Sean West (16) both finished 4th. Paul and Liam represented GCSC in the Championship Finals finishing 4th and 7th.

For the senior girls, Aimee Carter (15) was in great form winning 3 golds (50 breast, 100IM, 400IM) and 2 silvers (50 free, 100 breast). Aimee went onto win silver in the championship finals, in an extremely close race with Rebecca Guy (17) from Bristol Henleaze, to become Junior County Champion.

Sophie Brown (14) won 3 golds (50 back, 200 fly, 400IM) and 2 bronze (50 free, 100IM). She also went on to win bronze in the 400IM final and bronze in the 50 back final to become Junior County Champion. Sophie also broke the County AGBT for 14 year olds in the 50 back in a time of 31.10 (a record set by Karen Lee of Bristol North in 1997).

In the 50 free Holly Whitton (13) stormed to victory and gold in an impressive time of 28.78! Kirstie Hepburn (15), Rebecca Johnstone (16), Hannah Montague (18) also won gold and Georgia Fuller (14) won silver. Courtney Parcell (12) and Tori Nunn (14) both finished 4th in their age groups while sisters Jenny (14) and Imogen (15) Wells finished 5th and 7th. The 50 free final was dominated by 6 GCSC girls qualifying. Rebecca Johnstone (16) won silver and Kirstie Hepburn bronze to become Junior County Champion. Hannah, Georgia, Holly and Sophie placed 5th-8th respectively.

In the 100 breast, sisters Emma (16) and Sally Fitzpatrick (13) both won gold in their respective age groups. Emma also won silver in the 50 breast with Sally finishing 4th and Georgia Fuller (15) bronze. Both Emma and Sally qualified for the 100 breast final along with Rebecca Johnstone (16) and Aimee Carter (15) with Emma winning silver, Sally 4th, Rebecca 5th and Aimee 8th.

GCSC girls did particularly well in the 50 back winning a clutch of medals. Hannah Montague (18), Sophie Brown (14) and Alice Price (13) won gold, Tracey Kidner (18) and Rebecca Johnstone (16) won silver and Imogen Wells (15), Jenny Wells (14) and Holly Whitton (13) won bronze. 5 GCSC girls qualified for the 50 back final with Hannah Montague winning gold to become County Champion. Tracey Kidner took silver and Sophie Brown took bronze to be Junior County Champion. Jenny and Holly placed in 5th and 7th.

In the 100IM Alice Price (13), Aimee Carter (15), Rebecca Johnstone (16) and Hannah Montague (18) won gold, Georgia Fuller (15) silver and Kirstie Hepburn (15), Sophie Brown (14) and Holly Whitton (13) bronze. 5 GCSC girls qualified for the 100IM finals with Aimee winning bronze. Hannah, Rebecca, Georgia and Sophie placed 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th (despite both Aimee and Sophie losing their goggles during the race!).

Overall an outstanding set of results for GCSC. Total unofficial medal tally to date in the County Champs 2010 is 117 for Age group Events (59 Gold, 46 Silver, 34 Bronze) and 22 for Championship Finals (5 Gold, 8 Silver, 9 Bronze). 3 new County AGBT records were set over the weekend by GCSC swimmers. GCSC currently hold 5 County Championship and 5 Junior County Championship titles. We remain very comfortably at the top of the medal table.