Swimmers caught speeding in Dover

Faversham Swimming Club held their heads high after scooping a well deserved third place at the recent Dover Development Gala.

Faversham’s swimmers smashed personal best times with seven of Faversham’s fastest being issued with speeding tickets. These badges of honour are awarded to swimmers who exceed the entry times as specified by the Amateur Swimming Association.

Young Joe Wall and Richard Catton had their throttles flat to the floor as they collected two speeding tickets each. Joe collected his for the boys 10 years 50 metre backstroke in a personal best time of 47.12 and the 50 metre butterfly in a time of 46.44. Whilst Richard was rewarded a ticket in the boys 10 years 100 metre individual medley in a personal best time of 1.44.37 and the 50 metre breaststroke in a time of 52.71.

Other speeders were Sam Harlow boys 11 yrs 50 mtr freestyle (P.B. 38.95), Flora Westlake girls 12 yrs 100 metre individual medley (P.B.1.28.18), Lydia Scott girls 15 yrs and under 50 mtr breaststroke (P.B.41.93), Scott Kendall boys 18 yrs 50 mtr freestyle (P.B.29.52) and Tom Pearce boys 18 yrs 100 mtr individual medley (P.B.1.13.41).

First place wins were awarded to Harry McKenna boys 10 yrs 50 mtr freestyle, Molly Stemp girls 10 yrs 50 mtr breaststroke, Alice Searley girls 11 yrs 50 mtr breaststroke (P.B.49.05), Molly McKenna girls 11 yrs 50 mtr backstroke, Sam Harlow boys 11 yrs 50 mtr backstroke (P.B.46.24), Flora Westlake girls 12 yrs 50 mtr breaststroke. Lydia Scott girls 18 yrs 100 mtr individual medley (P.B.1.22.26) and 15 yrs 50 mtr backstroke (P.B.38.81), Tom Pearce boys 18 yrs 50 mtr backstroke and 50 mtr butterfly and the 11 yrs mixed medley relay team.

Those scooping second place were Nicola Crouch girls 9 yrs 50 mtr breaststroke, Olivia Hawkins girls 11 yrs 50 mtr butterfly (P.B. 43.91), Keeley Wrench girls 11 yrs 50 mtr freestyle (P.B. 38.96), Erica Sellens girls 12 yrs 50 mtr freestyle, Joanne Hawkins girls 18 yrs 50 mtr backstroke (P.B. 37.95), Emily Westlake girls 18 yrs 50 mtr breaststroke. The 9 yrs mixed freestyle relay team, the 9 yrs mixed medley relay team, the 10 yrs mixed medley relay team, the 11 yrs mixed freestyle relay team, the 18 yrs mixed freestyle relay team and the 18 yrs mixed medley relay team.

Third place was awarded to Emily Holt girls 9 yrs 50 mtr freestyle (P.B. 42.86), Harry McKenna boys 9 yrs 50 mtr freestyle and 50 mtr butterfly, Molly Stemp girls 10 yrs 50 mtr backstroke (P.B. 51.06), Dervla Murphy girls 10 yrs 100 mtr individual medley, Olivia Hawkins girls 12 yrs 50 mtr backstroke (P.B. 41.96). Rebecca Crouch girls 15 yrs 50 mtr freestyle, Blaine Ramsden boys 15 yrs 50 mtr backstroke, Scott Kendall boys 18 yrs 50 mtr breaststroke and the 12 yrs mixed medley relay team.

Other swimmers with personal best times were Ruby Scott girls 50 mtr butterfly (53.71), Dervla Murphy girls 50 mtr freestyle (44.33), Joe Wall boys 100 mtr individual medley (1.41.35), Sam Harlow boys 50 mtr backstroke (47.65) and Blaine Ramsden boys 50 mtr breaststroke (54.69).

Head Coach Sharon Wenn acknowledged the hard work put in by the swimmers and commented “ Well done to Faversham on your excellent third place at Dover. We had a number of swimmers missing, but still you fought hard to take third place. We missed out on four events due to the absent swimmers and many had to swim well above their age. We also gained nine speeding tickets which just shows how hard they all tried “.

The gala’s final points placing’s were 1st Dover with 264 points, 2nd Folkestone on 240.5 points, 3rd Faversham 223, 4th Hythe 217, 5th Black Lion 209 and 6th Ashford 136.5.