Good medal haul at Quays

EIGHTEEN Guernsey Swimming Club members returned with a bag full of medals from the Southampton Open Sprint Meet at the Quays. Aged between nine and 11, the swimmers accredited themselves well, even though technical hitches saw the gala run far from smoothly and caused some nerves for the younger participants, who were often left waiting behind the starting blocks for long periods.

Nine-year-old Alexander Batiste was the star of the Guernsey contingent, returning with two golds and one bronze along with the trophy for best boy in his age group.

In the 50m butterfly, Batiste was a winner by exactly one second from Daniel Speers of Bournemouth Dolphins.

In the nine-year-old girls, India Lanyon won two silvers in the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke along with a bronze in the 50m butterfly.

Leah Winberg took silver in the butterfly and collected a bronze medal in the freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke.

Marco Petralia won silver in the 50m freestyle but had to settle for fifth place in what is considered to be his best event - the 50m butterfly.

Other swimmers who did well to place in the top eight of their event in this age group were Lily Mahon, Courtney Chapman, Alex Butt and Jay Mason.

The GSC's only other gold medal came from Luke Winberg in the 11-year-old section in the 50m backstroke.

He had to fight all the way and was credited with a time of 35.10. Alex Cameron Calvo of City of Southampton came close to denying the Sarnian, clocking 35-16.

Winberg also collected silvers in the breaststroke, butterfly and 100m individual medley and a bronze in the 50m freestyle.

Nicole Hewlett won a bronze in the 50m breaststroke, with Ellie Ogier collecting the same in the butterfly and individual medley events.

In total the GSC won three gold, eight silver, eight bronze and a further 26 medals for swimmers placing in fourth to eighth.