A new era is already proving to be a success at St Neots Swans.
A new era is already proving to be a success at St Neots Swans.
The club celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, but it was marked by the retirement of founder Linda Ashley-Davidson to focus on her role as the president of the Cambridgeshire Amateur Swimming Association.
Andrea Gilbert, once a Swans star in the pool, returned to the club to succeed Ashley-Davidson as head coach.
Gilbert boasts a degree in sports studies which will no doubt be of benefit to the club’s band of young swimmers – and after spending 15 years in the police force, she will have no trouble in retaining order at the poolside.
Gilbert’s new regime has seen the introduction of land training in addition to work in the pool and it is already producing some excellent results.
The club were represented by 14 swimmers in the Cambridgeshire County Championships earlier in the year and won four medals.
Luca Strazzullo struck gold in the 50m breaststroke for the 12yrs age group while Joshua Needham earned silver in the 11yrs 200m breaststroke.
Darcy Button (15yrs, 200m freestyle) and Ewan Thompson (12yrs, 200m breaststroke) both collected bronze medals.
And Swans enjoyed further success at the recent Cambridge Open with eight medals and a stack of personal bests.
Alexia Gilbert celebrated a golden hat-trick after triumphs in her 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle races.
Strazzullo (100m) and Thompson (200m) both won breaststroke golds – the former also recording a regional qualifying time after previously achieving that feat over 50m.
Thompson also collected bronze in the 50m breaststroke and sisters Emily and Hannah Williams both won medals. Emily earned silver in the 400m individual medley with Hannah taking bronze in the 200m individual medley.
Jade-Lee Davis, Ellenor Thompson, Max Lubello, Layla Button, Darcy Button, Alice Jack and Needham all swam personal bests during the event. A number of Saints swimmers also recorded county qualifying times.
Anyone interested in joining St Neots Swans can make contact through their website http://stneotsswimming.clubbuzz.co.uk/ in the first instance.
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