East Lothian Swim Team have returned from Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow, after a phenomenal week of swimming, coming away with 15 National Titles, 5 East District Records, 154 Personal bests and 56 East Lothian Records, finishing 5th in the overall team competition, a massive improvement on 11th from the year before.  ELST took a team of 27 swimmers, who had to achieved qualification times to attend, to compete against the biggest and best programmes in the country.  Over the course of the 5 day competition, the swimmers claimed 27 medals, from 73 contested finals, improving on 12 medals claimed from the 2017 campaign. 

 

Stefan Krawiec (12) led the swim team with 10 National Titles in the 11-13 age group, taking the Gold medals in the 50 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 Free, 100 Fly, 200 IM, and 100 Free.  Louisa Stoddart (13) claimed two National Titles in the 11-13 age group, taking Gold in the 50 and 100 fly and picked up 2 bronzes medals in the 50 and 200 Breaststroke.  Bridget Lemasurier (15) also claimed 2 National titles in the 16 years age group, winning the 50 Breaststroke on the first day, breaking the East District Record which she has equalled only the week before. Bridget then proceeded to beat the British Champion in the 100 Breaststroke to claim her second title on the final day of the Championships.  The swim team had great success in the relays, winning the Gold medal and claiming the National title in the 11-13 4x100 Freestyle relay, the team consisted of Sophie Ferguson, Grace Courtney, Louisa Stoddart and Meagan Porteous. We also had success in our other relay, with the same Girls team claiming a bronze in the 4x100 Medley relay and our 11-13 Boys 4x100 Medley, made up of Owen Williamson, Calum Peebles, Stefan Krawiec and Ben Williamson (The youngest swimmer in the meet) claimed the bronze medal.  Our 14-16 boy and girl relay teams put in strong performances to place within the top 10 in all but 1 race.

 

Edward Alsop (15) continued his recent run of good form with two Silver medals in the 1500m Freestyle and 400 IM coming close in the 400 Free and the 800 Free,  finishing 4th in the 16 years age group.  Calum Peebles (11) picked up a Bronze medal in the 400 Freestyle and in the process claimed another East District record.  Calum continued on to break an additional 3 East Dictrict records in the 1500 Free, 200 Back and breaking is own 400 IM record.  Charlie Smith, competing in the 19+ field claimed three Bronze medals in the 50,100 and 200 Backstroke.  Meagan Porteous (13) converted her two relay medals into an individual Bronze medal in the 200 Freestyle.

 

Our other finalists, of which their were many, performed amazingly pushing the swim team as far up the rankings as possible, these finalists were; Lucy Lucas (14) who contested the 50, 100 and 200 Back final.  Sean Craigmile (14) who contested the 100 Back, 400 Free, 200 Back, 400 IM and 50 Back finals.  Aidan Ballantyne (15) who contested the 200 IM and 100 Free finals, and his squad mate Luke Porteous, who contested in the 200 back, 400 Free and 1500 free finals.  Finlay Hart (16) swimming in a 17/18 combined age group competed in the 200 Fly and 100 Fly finals.  Emma Finlay (13) and Grace Courtney (12) both on their Nationals debuts, qualified for the 200 Fly final.  Craig Mellon (15) contested 50 Back final on his Nationals debut, and Iona Wilson, Craig other squad mate, competed in the 50, 100, 200 Fly, narrowly missing out on the podium in all three events.

 

Bruce Halloran, ELST Head Coach said, “We are absolutely delighted with the performance of all the swimmers and as a team overall.  Individual performers such as Stefan, Louisa and Bridget achieving the highest standards in their Age Group set up the team for an impressive Championship.  Last year, ELST finished 11th with no National titles, this year to have finished the championships in 5th, with 15 National titles is outstanding.  We have been continuously working over the past four years to build a strong, sustainable and progressive performance swim team and we are now starting to make an impact at a National level.  I would like to thank the swimmers for their commitment and their parents for facilitating their children’s dream along with East Lothian Council as a key partner.  My final thank you is for my fellow coaches, who have committed all they have to create an environment where our swimmers can thrive, rise to the challenge and achieve their goals.”