Twenty one of Bishop’s Stortford Swimming Club 9-12 year olds were in action recently against the best that Hertfordshire could offer. Pre-covid, BSSC competed annually in the Hertfordshire Swimming Peanuts League against other Hertfordshire swimming clubs, but this was the first full league running since 2019.
The top division of the league consists of twelve teams competing in three separate galas. Each gala has 39 events that are a mix of individual age group races (9yr, U11yr, U12yr, U13yr) and relays, and each gala ends with a squadron freestyle relay consisting of eight swimmers (a boy and girl from each age group). It’s usually a raucous, loud, fun night and a great opportunity for swimmers to experience being part of a team in a sport that is primarily individual.
BSSC was drawn to swim at Potters Bar for all three rounds and came 4th in round one, 3rd in round two and 6th in round three, which secured them an overall 6th out of twelve teams in the first division and keeps them in that top division for another year. It was a great achievement as they were up against many other larger clubs and were a very inexperienced team!
This was the first time at Peanuts for the majority of the swimmers and they all put in an amazing performance, working together as a team and giving loads of support for each other. Special mention must go to Molly, Samuel, Noah and Elliot who all swam not only in their own age group but also the age group above and were never far from the starting blocks. Thanks also to the organising team of Team Manager Danielle and Coach Joe, and our older swimmers (Callum, Millie and Niamh) who came along to support the younger members of the club.
Full Peanuts squad: Noah Conroy, Alex Eustace, George Hall, Haydn Bird, Guy Spearman-Baines, Eddy Cheng, Zachary Haslett-Fossey, Ben Palmer, Elliot Hall, Robert Filionescu, Yana Patel, Ellyse Harvey, Millie Cass, Lois Fields, Molly Greatbatch, Elsie Lowe, Adeline Chen, Isabelle Earley, Zoe Opiyo, Meha Patel, Bobbie MacDonald-Williams
