1066 improve at Brighton

The Brighton Open saw 1066 start the new swimming year in style with 14 top three finishes, 27 personal bests and 11 new club records set amongst a highly competitive field.

Heading the medal table for the local swimming club was Victoria Turner,14, who secured gold in the 100m and 200m backstroke and followed that up with two bronzes in the 50m and 200m freestyle both personal bests whilst Chloe Pollard,11, gained further gold for 1066 in the 200m backstroke in a vastly improved time and then took silver in the 100m backstroke! plus she notched up a pbs in the 200 IM and 200m freestyle.

More gold was still to come with Ellie Williams,13, winning the 100m backstroke for her age group in a personal best time and continued bettering her times in the 200m backstroke (bronze medal) and the 100m freestyle. 

The most improved swimmer over the weekend was Ella Watson,11,who drastically reduced her times in all her seven swims taking silver in the 200m breaststroke and a bronze in the 100m breaststroke. There were pbs for her in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle,100m backstroke and the 200 IM.

Charlotte Rouncivell,12,was the bronzen girl of the meet with three third places in the 50m and 100m freestyle (pb) and the 100m backstroke (pb).

Entering the Open age group Adam Rouncivell,15, came third in the highly charged 50m freestyle with another personal best and improved again in the 200m freestyle and 200 IM. The success story of the weekend was the numerous pbs set from the next wave of promising swimmers emerging from 1066. Ryan Lee,11, clocked improvements in the 100m and 200m backstroke plus the 100m and 200m freestyle, Chloe Baker,10,in the 50m freestyle, Lucy Puddefoot,10, in the 100m backstroke, Johanna Welford,11, in the 50m freestyle and Molly Paulin,10, in the 100m breaststroke. 

Head Coach Dave Pollard said "Though it is early in the season all the swimmers were performing above expectations and with every swimmer recording personal bests. The younger swimmers are putting in some inspiring swims and hopefully that will lead to greater things."