Championship effort for Step Rock swimmers

The club decided to dust down its championship records, dating back to 1991, and update them with any new winning times.

First record-breaker was Fraser Stewart, in taking u10 boys individual medley gold.

In a day of intense competition, five further records were to tumble: two for Angus McCallum in the u14 boys 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly; two for Charlie Gillespie in the heats and final of the 50m backstroke; and a special one for Isla Hedley winning gold in the U12 25m butterfly, and breaking elder sister Anna’s 2015 record.

In one of the most closely contested finals of the day, Anna Malcomson took the U16 girls freestyle to win the Junior Challenge Cup. Victory went to Robert Sparks in the boys’ event.

The Beginners Cup saw nineteen 8-and-unders compete over one length.

Youngest of them, Carly McDonald, had only completed her first length swim in the previous hour.

Cameron Brough raced to a new PB in the boys’ final to take the gold, silver going to Sam Jaffray.

A determined swim in the girls’ final saw Thea Wright take first, Kaitlyn Lumsden taking silver.

Club champions were Freya Hedley (5 golds, U10 girls); Fraser Stewart (3 golds, U10 boys); Freya McLelland (4 golds, U12 girls); Charlie Gillespie (5 golds, U12 boys); Anna Hedley (4 golds, U14 girls); Angus McCallum (3 golds, U14 boys); Màiri Noble (4 golds, Open); Robert Sparks (4 golds, Open).

Other gold medallists were Finn Bell (U10 backstroke and breaststroke); David de Wolff (U14 50m breaststroke); Harry Paul (U14 50m freestyle); Emily Malcomson (U14 50m breaststroke); and Isaac Laker (Open 100m butterfly).

Club President, Ewen Sparks, extended his thanks to all the volunteers, Ian McFarlane,Ross Ainslie and to the staff of FSLT at East Sands for their help.