Kingsbridge Kingfishers bring home medal haul from Devon County ASA Development Gala

Kingfishers celebrate bringing back 101 Personal Best times and 14 medals from the Devon County ASA Development Gala. 

Kingfishers’ efforts at the Devon County ASA Development Gala on Saturday, 15 June, were rewarded with 101 Personal Best (PB) times from a total of 28 competitors. 

After only sending 13 to the competition last year, it was thrilling to see so many more young Quayside swimmers racing for the first time - with 14 of the squad making their debuts and everyone achieving at least one Personal Best.

Several of the club’s swimmers achieved their best ever medal placings - taking advantage of the absence of regional level athletes who were ineligible. Danny Clack, who only competed in the second weekend, performed so well that he was awarded with the club’s Swimmer of the Meet prize. 

Danny achieved a 22-second PB in the 100 Fly and his second year of Devon County Championship Qualification in the process. He won four golds and one silver medal from the five races he entered.

First-time medal winners included Gracie White, claiming bronze in the 50 Fly. Then Oliver McKinlay won silver in the 50 Freestyle and Fabiano Noto also won silver in the 200 Breaststroke. Fabiano achieved his first two Devon County Qualifications - but every swimmer must wait until September before these qualification times are confirmed.

Emilia McKinlay’s talent was only on show in races she was eligible for - having won medals at the County Championship she was restricted in what she could enter. She won a brilliant gold in the 100 Backstroke, with a silver in the 200 Backstroke and bronze in the 200 IM.

The first Sunday of the meet was dedicated to the sprint events, where five Kingfishers achieved a clean sweep of PBs across the day’s four races. Cody Steer, Caspar Gonifas, Will Ness, Sophie White and Lottie Taylor all went home with their best possible results.

Lottie was particularly unlucky not to win a medal across the two weekends, finishing fourth several times. Aged only nine, there will be plenty more opportunities for her to grow in the sport. She bravely swam in the 100 Fly, swimming four lengths in under two minutes.

Sophie’s training also paid off in the longer distance events with some great PBs, as she edged closer towards county qualifying standard. Darcey Lennon achieved a county time for the first time, with county times also being met by Lottie, Will Robinson, Layla Quiggin and Faye Morris. 

Kingfishers won three more gold medals thanks to senior swimmers. Club Captain Jess Stewart won the 200 Backstroke and 100 Freestyle, while coach Conor Morgan took part in the 800 Freestyle and won with a senior county qualifying time - his first race at the Developments in almost 20 years. 

The club would like to place on record a message of thanks to all of our volunteers and officials who gave up their days to help this meet go ahead - a lack of volunteers did put it in doubt - and without them the club would not have been able to achieve 101 personal best times

With so much positivity around the club currently - the final events of the season are expected to be a blast. Kingfishers host the President’s Shield on 6 July against four travelling clubs - while the season ends a week later with the Devonport Sizzler Open Meet.