Gala Reports
The Warwick Thompson Memorial gala was held at Thetford over the weekend of February 24th and 25th. Many people will remember Warwick as the tireless and charismatic swimming gala commentator from Norwich Swan Swimming Club and The City of Norwich Swimming Club over numerous years, and this gala honours his memory. Great Yarmouth Swimming Club certainly a showed positivity and determination that would have impressed him, throughout the whole weekend of competition. In an outstanding performance, the swimmers came away with 63 medals, 70 new personal bests and between them managed to take an astounding 6 minutes 30 seconds off their previous best recorded race times. They also displayed fabulous team spirit in their support of each other.
Out of the 18 swimmers from GYSC every single one that participated achieved either a medal or a pb and in many cases did both. 7 boys competed with all of them medalling. Oliver Grimmer has continued to make huge progress and this showed. He was particularly impressive in the backstroke, winning all 3 distances of 50m, 100m and 200m with significant pbs in all 3 races. He also took 2 silvers and a bronze and showed a great attitude as the boys captain. Rhys Jarvis has found real form again after fighting back from injury. He pb’d every race and won gold in 100m backstroke, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle, along with 2 silvers and a bronze. Brad Secker had a great day on Saturday, swimming strongly to take a silver in the 100m IM along with 3 bronze medals. Nathan Pitman had the busiest weekend, completing an impressive 12 races in total, but showed consistency throughout and took away 3 silvers and 3 bronze medals. Diogo Wiseman and Ethan Blake both competed in the age 13s, swimming with determination Ethan took a silver in the 50m backstroke and Diogo took silver in the 200m IM along with bronze in 100m breaststroke. Jack Tate always has a smile and positive attitude on poolside, and was justifiably pleased with his silver in 200m freestyle and bronze in 100m IM.
The girls performed equally well. Skye Nichols, Ruby Copping and Amelia Dibble all compete as 11 year olds, and push each other hard. Honours were shared with all 3 girls achieving gold medals, along with great new pb times. Skye took the top spot in 100m and 200m breaststroke along with 2 bronze medals, Ruby won gold in 200m freestyle (with a huge 16 second pb) and 2 silvers and Amelia also swam a huge pb to take gold in 50m breaststroke. Alyssa Greenall also had a great gala, winning gold in 100m butterfly, a silver in 100m breaststroke and a bronze. Francesca Brown swam a strong 50m freestyle to take gold in a new pb time, along with silver in the 200m IM and 2 bronze medals. Abbey Secker showed consistency, taking an impressive 4 silver medals on the Saturday of the gala. Zoe Land also competed strongly, pbing every race she did and taking silvers in 100m breaststroke and 200m IM and a bronze. Emma Land, Zara Buckingham and Binnie-Rose Tyler all raced well, with Binnie-Rose improving on all of her previous times and all girls showing fantastic team spirit. Melissa Duffield showed good consistency taking silver medals in all 3 of her races on the Sunday and saving her best improvement in time for the last event of the day – the 100m IM. Chloe Haworth has been a great addition to the club, and continues to work hard and improve. She achieved new pbs in every race she did, and took a strong silver in the 200m IM.
All in all a very positive weekend for GYSC. Well done to the swimmers that took part, and thanks to the coaching team, volunteers and officials.
