Vikings find it tough at Regional Gala.
Amid hundreds of entries, Norfolk’s smallest swimming club, North Norfolk Vikings still managed to have four individual qualifiers and a men’s relay team for the Eastern Regional Championships held in Luton.
As expected competition was fierce but ladies club captain Leah Harris still managed to go 1:12.07 over 100m butterfly long course and in the freestyle she completed the 100m in 1 04.28. It was another 100m for 18 year old Harry Hudson who was well below a minute when he touched the pad in 56.85. for the freestyle.
Lily Herring came third In the 400m Freestyle when the combined multi-classification para swimming points were announced after a very demanding 400m freestyle finishing on 5::51.64 .Herring came third again in the multi classification over the shorter distance of 100m with her 1:19.56.
Isaac Buchan handled four events 400 IM 5 24.08 400 freestyle 4:36.04,100 butterfly 1.04.52 and the 200m backstroke 2 27.42. All his swims were personal bests and in the 400m freestyle the 15 year old finished in sixth place..
The climax of the gala for the Vikings was the 4 x 100 Men’s Freestyle Relay consisting of Ashley Jones, Lewis Goultry, Sam Morton and Harry Hudson. Jones, Goultry and Hudson all broke a minute for the 100m with men’s club captain Morton going just over a minute in !;01.61. and subsequently the team finished eighth with 3:56.48.
They were only one of two Norfolk clubs in the final. The eventual winners were the City of Norwich who just out touched the City of Cambridge in a very close finish. After the gala, a member of the Viking coaching staff said
“Although no one medalled competing at this level has been a valuable experience for all the swimmers and full credit to the relay team as this was the first time in the club’s history they were able to field a team at this level.”
More to come….