Events

After a covid enforced break of three years, the prestigious British Summer Championships returned this August to provide a key end-of-season competition opportunity for home nation athletes.  It was held from 22nd-28th July at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, and the top 24 swimmers in Britain in each event and age group were invited to compete. 

BSSC had five local swimmers invited for the 2022 Championships: Ella Greatbatch (14 yrs), Kirsty Neill (15 yrs), Lauren Gore (16 yrs), Jago Derrington (16 yrs) and Niamh James (19 yrs/Over).  New BSSC member Laura Burgess (16 yrs) represented her old club, whilst two swimmers from Team Bonn in Germany who were born and taught to swim in Bishop’s Stortford, Toby and William Godsell (15 & 17 yrs), swam under the BSSC umbrella.

Competing against the best in Britain was a fantastic as well as nerve racking experience for all the swimmers, with only Niamh James having previously been invited to a summer championships, but they all represented themselves and the club superbly.

Kirsty Neill (BSSC) secured a superb silver medal in the 15 years 200m Breaststroke in a BSSC club record beating time, in a thrilling race that had everyone on the edge of their seats (yet again!).  She had qualified for the final in a new personal best time and in the final was stroke for stroke with the swimmer she beat at the Scottish Nationals back in April, until the last wall when she was just out touched for the gold.  She also finalled in the 100m Breaststroke, coming 10^th. 

Niamh James (BSSC), competing in the 19 years and above category, put in a strong personal best performance to come 9^th in the 200m Backstroke final.

Toby Godsell (Team Bonn) also had a great championships, taking silver in the 50m/100m Backstroke and 200m IM finals and bronze in the 200m Backstroke final.  Will Godsell (Team Bonn) finalled in every event he entered coming 5^th in 50m Breaststroke, 6^th in 100m Breaststroke, 7^th in 200m IM and 8^th in 200m Breaststroke.

Huge congratulations should go to all the swimmers for their performances and also to BSSC head coach Benoit Grattepanche and former BSSC coach Mathieu Leroy for their support and guidance.

Full Results:

• Ella Greatbatch: 12th 50m Breaststroke
• Jago Derrington: 21st 200m Backstroke
• Kirsty Neill: Silver 200m Breaststroke; 10th 100m Breaststroke; 13th 50m Breaststroke
• Lauren Gore: 24th 50m Breaststroke
• Niamh James: 9th 200m Backstroke; 12th 100m Backstroke
• Laura Burgess (N&D PP SC): 13th 50m Freestyle
• Toby Godsell: Silver 50m/100m Backstroke & 200m IM; Bronze 200m Backstroke; 11th 50m Breaststroke; 12th 100m Butterfly; 15th 50m Butterfly
• William Godsell: 5th 50m Breaststroke; 6th 100m Breaststroke; 7th 200m IM; 8th 200m Breaststroke

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 4^th in round one, 3^rd in round two and 6^th in round three, which secured them an overall 6^th 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