Recently returned from their warm weather training camp in La Calleta Tenerife the Kingston Upon Hull Swimming Club brought home a hat full of medals including 12 gold’s, 8 silver and 5 bronze medals and also achieved a number of National qualification times whilst competing at the North East Regional Championships held in Sunderland.

The meet gave the clubs top swimmers the chance to race against the best in the North East Region with clubs from Newcastle, Middlesborough, Sheffield, Leeds, Harogate and many more competing. With a record number on entries, just qualifying for the meet was a great achievement on its own for the swimmers. With the record number of entries came the record number of Gold medals and to 10 finishes and personal best swims.

In the Age groups, siblings William and Grace Dennis excelled Grace age 13 was competing in her last Age Group Championships brought home 6 gold and 2 silver medals and achieved National qualifying times in the 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 400m freestyle and the100m freestyle events.

Grace Dennis was in fine form and also took a clean sweep of gold medals in the freestyle events. This included 1500m freestyle (17:14.94), 800m freestyle (8:51.22), 400m freestyle (4:21.15), 200m freestyle (2:06.01) and 100m freestyle (58.97). Her 6th gold was achieved in the 200m backstroke (2:20.16) Grace also added the silver medals in the 200m butterfly (2:27.32) and also the 100m backstroke (1:06.73). William age 12 claimed bronze medal in 200m backstroke (2.31.84) and achieved personal best times and was ranked top ten for all of his races.

Fellow competitors, Roisin Kelly and Dervla Curran had a great championship following their hard training in Tenerife. Roisin claimed 2 bronze medals in the 200m backstroke (2.22.75) and the 100m backstroke in a time of 1.06.86 and narrowly missed achieving National times in both events, Dervla also swam well recording personal best times in 400m individual medley and 400m freestyle.

Competing in the girls12 year’s age group Jace Cappleman produced an excellent performance to take 3rd place in the 800m freestyle recording a huge personal best swim.

In the boys 14-year age group Jan Tomasz claimed silver in both the breaststroke events, 100 breaststroke (1:12.38) and 200m breaststroke (2:33.28) both excellent swims. Cameron Hulme performed well and swam personal best times in all his races ranking in the top five for 100m breaststroke and 100m butterfly. Oche Igoche also swam a personal best in his 100m freestyle.

Three Kingston swimmers recorded medal positions in the 11 years age group. In the girls events Shannon McGahey claimed gold in the 800m freestyle (10:01.93), 400m freestyle (4:51.71) and 200m butterfly (2:41.24). Shannon also claimed a silver in the 400m IM (4:39.59) and bronze in the 200m IM (2:43.11). In the boys events Daniel Stone claimed gold in both the backstroke events 100 backstroke (1:16.30) and 200m backstroke (2:36.45). Bailey Hairsine took the gold in the 200m butterfly in a time of 2:49.71, silver in the 100m Fly (1:19.01) and bronze in the 400m IM event.

Yasmin Brown produced a number of excellent performances in the 10-year age group. Yasmin recorded a huge personal best to finish 2nd in the girls 11 years 100m freestyle.

Nathan Greenwood, William Maddrell, William Thomson, Jack Riley, Hannah Falkinder, Joe Morris, Emily Bailey, Darcey Hambly also qualified and recorded a number of personal best at this prestigious meet.

The senior swimmers of the club also competed at Sunderland, two 25-metre pools being in operation at the same time.

Biathlete Natasha Bellamy, whose commitment to Tenerife meant she could not attend the world championships in Dubai, and having recently had a break from swimming, made a great comeback making finals in 400m im, 200m fly, 200m im, 100m butterfly and 200m breaststroke, she claimed 3 medals and 2 national times in 400im and 200m butterfly. More medals were won by Rachael Williamson winning gold in 100m fly, 200m fly, a silver in 1500m freestyle and bronze in 200m free final and also achieved national times in 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m butterfly events. Best swims were probably achieved by the two younger swimmers Amy Felgate who knocked off 14 seconds during her 800m free race and ranked 7th overall. Also Eleanor Thomson who narrowly missed her national time in the 100m backstroke, she achieved a personal best and was reserve for the final.

Alex cook who consistently trains well, was rewarded with great swims and personal best times in 200br,200fr and 200im. James Rodmell who at 20 years old was the oldest member of the club and also the oldest swimmer from the area to qualify for the meet improved his short course 50m fly time and equalled his best in the 100m frontcrawl.