Kingfishers end season with medal haul from Devonport Sizzler

Another season of swimming is complete for Kingsbridge Kingfishers after 17 young swimmers entered the Devonport Sizzler, coming home with a combined total of 29 medals.

Every athlete who took part was aged 14 or under - a very promising sign - with every racer coming home with at least one personal best time.

13 of Kingfishers' 17-strong team pause for a team photo at the Life Centre

The friendly meet was one for new challenges, as regional swimmers Lucas Quiggin and Chloe Morris were encouraged to enter their first 400 individual medleys. Both won medals for their efforts, swimming four lengths of all four strokes in under six minutes. 

Chloe’s progress has been a joy to behold this season, and she stormed to six gold medals from her eight events entered - lowering a few 12-year-old club records along the way. Her 200 Breaststroke PB of 2:53.61 moved her up to 23rd in the English Rankings, and 30th in the British Rankings for that event - her highest ever positions.

Lucas won medals of every available colour, while a hat-trick of Freestyle gold medals were won by Emilia McKinlay. The other gold medallist was Danny Clack who was the fastest in his age for the 50 Breaststroke.

Lottie Taylor won her first ever bronze medal in the 100 IM, before following this up with another bronze in the 200 Freestyle and a silver in the 100 Butterfly. Oliver McKinlay won bronze in the 200 Freestyle, and Faye Morris won bronze in the 100 Butterfly.

Swimming is never all about the medals, as children gain valuable life experience in their attempts to secure personal best times. Darcey Lennon swam a huge PB in the 100 Freestyle, while Eliza Musgrave completed her first ever 100 Backstroke. Layla Quiggin achieved several fourth and fifth place finishes, and her time to win medals will likely come very soon.

Fabiano Noto increased his chances of qualifying for his first Devon County Championships with a strong PB in the 200 Breaststroke, while younger brother Rocco went under 50 seconds for the first time in a 50m Freestyle. Olivia Kenyon went 10 seconds better, going under 40 seconds for the first time.

Callum Weeks was only a few seconds from achieving a provisional Devon time of his own in the 100 Freestyle. Sisters Gracie and Sophie White won back to back heats in the 100m Individual Medley, while Lexie Gomm achieved four PBs out of five in a great weekend of racing that won her the Swimmer of the Meet trophy. 

The team will now take a rest for August, before returning to racing at the end of September.