Some of the team at the Warwick Thompson Gala L to R back Sam Watts (Coach) Lewis Goulty Front L to R Razvan Platon,Winnie Browne,Emily Beighton,Rebecca Burrows, Esme Seaman & Baillee Beighton

After having a very successful County Championships. we swam well again when we travelled to the Warwick Thompson gala in Thetford.

For 15 year old Emily Beighton it was a gala she will not forget for a long time. Over the week-end of competition, she won five gold medals. Her first came in the 200m Individual Medley. Completing 50m on all four strokes, the Broadland High School student from Bacton, led the race from the gun and was fifteen seconds clear of any opponent after she touched in  3:06.89 Emily swam butterfly again in the 100m but it was much closer. However, she just held on to win in 1:35.81. The decisive factor was her breathing technique when she took one breath every two strokes in stead of the traditional one. This definitely worked to her advantage.

Emily is proving to be very versatile in all strokes over different distances and when it came to the 50m backstroke, she won it with a finger tip finish hitting the pad in with 40.03 – a split second ahead. Perhaps her fastest race came in the 50m breaststroke when she defeated no fewer than eight competitors in 41.56. In her final triumph, she completely dominated  the 200m breaststroke winning almost 18 seconds ahead of any rival and in a personal best time of  2:23.66 . When asked about her swims, Emily said

“I have to admit I was very apprehensive this week about my 100m butterfly but when I got there,a member of the coaching staff at the club told me ‘If I think I can’t, I will not – but If I think I can I will,   I therefore just felt the time was right to at least start the race. I just could not imagine I would even get in the medals let alone win gold.” was the honest and modest reply.

Seniors and debutants, Sam Morton and Lewis Goulty both had multiple gold medal success in their first ever galas. In the 100m freestyle, Lewis aged 19,  came first  in 1:04.20. in an explosive finish. Then there were two more golds the 50m butterfly in 34.59 and his hat-trick of golds came in the 50m freestyle scoring 28.94. Meanwhile, 16 year old  Sam stated his claim on the 100m IM with a gold medal time of 1:20.36.  Sam did not have to wait long for his second gold when he added  the 50m backstroke  in 39.34 to his tally respectively.

Razvan Platon, won gold, five silvers and a bronze medal

In the 14 years,100m breastroke, he was three  seconds ahead of any opponent  at the half way mark.  Then on the last 50m he pulled further ahead  winning the race and improving his time by eight seconds when he brought it home in 1:41.98 to win the gold. .However, it was the 100m Individual Medley where he excelled and improved further . He was in contention right throughout the race and finished in silver medal position, just one second behind the winner but with a personal best of 1:30.93   – an eighteen second improvement  For a sprint event – where swimmers have to swim all four strokes in the race – it was simply  outstanding.

Doubling the distances Razvan attempted the 200m breastroke. At the touch he was just two seconds adrift of winning the gold but his silver medal time of  time of  3.38.47 was a twelve second improvement. It was the same distance again, but in the freestyle when Razvan claimed another silver medal with 2:48.72  Razvan improved  his time here by nineteen seconds.

In the 50m breastroke, he went six seconds faster than he has achieved to claim a well deserved silver medal in 48.21 and He improved his 50m butterfly by seven seconds when he hit the pad in in 43.04 for silver.

His bronze medal swim was for the 50m back stroke when he finished in 48.07  ironically, on this occasion, he was  four seconds out side his best time but not many swimmers left with seven medals! When asked about his swims, Razvan said

“Whilst it’s true that I have greatly improved recently, I don’t want to get too carried away. However, I’m excited for the next step forward.’

Full credit must go to 11 year old Layla Callaby who was the exceptional winner over the 50m breaststroke. Layla defeated six swimmers to win in 59.10 and is only currently in the development squad. However, Layla was not finished. There was another gold to follow  this time in the 50m freestyle defeating nine swimmers in a close finish with a stoic 45.11.

Amongst the medals was 12 year old Winnie Browne who had double medal success.. After a lot of perseverance, hard work and tenacity in training she went 1.36.09  on the 100m backstroke to take silver and then in the 200m freestyle, she scored  3.04.01 to take a bronze medal. Winne swam a personal best in both races.

Fearne Sadler, aged 10, also swam her fastest over 50m freestyle when she improved by twenty two seconds for the 50m freestyle to collect a bronze with 48.24. There was a bronze too for 13 year old Baillee Beighton over 100m in the 13 years freestyle in 1.37.77.

Esme Seaman entered no fewer than nine events and improved her own personal performances and was happy. The 14 year old was just out of the medals, finishing fourth over the 100m IM with1:36.27 Rosa Sadler, Fearne’s elder sister, swam will in the 50m freestyle in her best time of 45.55 .

Vikings left the gala with 14 golds, 14 silvers and 5. bronze medals.

 

At the Norfolk County Championships, held at the UEA over three week-ends,Isaac and Noah Buchan made the most of their opportunities at the first week-end of the Norfolk and Suffolk County Championship long distance events held simultaneously at the UEA Sports Park

Isaac swam the Suffolk 1,500m freestyle by swimming thirty lengths of the 50m pool and became Suffolk County Champion as he is currently on loan from North Norfolk Vikings to St Felix School, in Southwold. In the race, there was no doubt about the winner as he led the race from the gun, winning by a fifty second margin. If that was not enough his winning time of 19:55.36 has qualified him for the next stage when he will compete in four more events at the Regional Championships later in the year There was also a silver medal for Isaac in the 800m freestyle with a creditable 10:19.32.

Meanwhile his younger brother Noah did win his respective 800m in what was a very exciting head to head race with James O’Toole of the City of Norwich Club. Spectators had to wait until the last 50m before there was any sign of a leader. The Viking just edged ahead and held on winning in a Regional Qualifying Time of 11:32.92 from 11.36.05 recorded by James in the Norfolk race.

“I planned my attack when I went into the last turn. Then I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I could no longer see James, but I knew I just had to keep going!” remarked the determined new Norfolk County Champion after the race

However, the positions were reversed in the 1,500m when James won in 22:43.12 giving Noah the silver in 24:19.28 respectively.

Ellen Eccleston became a double County Champion in the sixteen years’ 100m and 200m breastroke at the Norfolk County Championships  held at the UEA Sports Park.  In the 100m she  defeated a field of 13 competitors  by lifting the trophy in a long course time of 1:17.74 in her first choice stroke . However, she was hassled all the way by Grace Greenhalf of the City of Norwich club in the final. At  half way, only a second separated them and Ellen held on to win by this margin from Grace who  went.1:18.96 over the 50m course respectively. Ellen recorded the sixth fastest time over all out of 127 competitors.

In the 200m she won it with ease touching the pad in 2:55.73  from Beatrix Baldwin of the Norwich Swan Club who scored 3:01.75. Ellen’s time was the seventh fastest out of 74 in all categories combined.

Viking pair Emily Beighton and new comer Lily Herring were also involved in the 100m breastsroke, all be it in one age group below. Emily came nineth in 1:35.22 and Lily came eleventh in1:57.94 respectively. However, Lily improved her 200m Individual Medley time by a staggering twenty seconds when she swam 50m on every stroke to finish eleventh in 3:25.29.

However, the rivalry between Noah and James O’Toole of the City of Norwich club continued from the recent previous encounters in the 800m and 1,500m freestyle. On this occasion it was  the 400m  Individual Medley and neither  faltered as they both swam well. At the touch it was Noah who had a slender, one second advantage to take his third gold of the championships  in 6:43.88 in a very exciting and close finish.

In the middle distances, Emily Morton took a silver medal in the 15 years 400m freestyle. Abigail Riches of the City of Norwich club was the worthy winner by approximately 19 seconds from Emily’s excellent second place swim of 4:51.81 out of twelve. The Viking’s time was also the seventeenth fastest out of 69 over all.

Noah and James O’Toole club continued to go head to head and did not disappoint. In the 200m freestyle, only a second separated them as  Noah touched first in 2:40.68 to win gold. Both 12 year olds demonstrated what excellent prospects they are when they turned to longer distances again, this time the 400m freestyle. Noah took another gold but was more ahead of James at the finish by two seconds in 5:43.06. Noah was triumphant again in the 100m freestyle when he won in 1.14.32. With six golds and two silvers, it was not surprising that he was awarded top boy in his age category

Meanwhile, Michael Sayer of Holt had a double gold in the same age group. Michael won the 50m backstroke with 37.42 and then in the 200m, he covered the course in 2:56.11 from Noah’s 2:56.95 and James’ 2:57.31. The two Vikings will now go through to the Regional Competition later in the year.

Leah Harris just outside the medals when she finished fourth in 30.4 over 50m butterfly after the twenty one year old  missed the final of the 200m Individual Medley coming ninth. However, Her time of in 2.35.13 was ironically the ninth fastest time out of 95 competitors for this event in all categories.

Other notable swims came from Evie Bates 400m freestyle, 6:20.12, Jess Semark 50m freestyle 33.01, Lily Dear 50m freestyle 36.39, Razvan Platon 50m freestyle 33.33, Grace Parker 50m butterfly, 48.06 Ruby Tracey 100m backstroke 1.19.31 George Edridge 1:40.09 100m breaststroke and twin brother Zak 1.38.66 in the same event.

, Coltishall pair Ashley Jones and Sophie McKee were also involved in finals. Club Captain Ashley,came sixth in the 16 years 100m freestyle going 1.04.61 when only three seconds separated him and the winner, Finley Arnup of the Norwich Swan Club. Meanwhile, over the same distance but on backstroke, Sophie came seventh in the 17 Years years age group in 1.14.51 – seven seconds behind the eventual winner Megan Pye of the City of Norwich Club. Toby Corfield of Alysham made the final of the 11 years’ 100m freestyle finishing eighth with 1.26.42. Harry Hudson qualified for the Regional Championships when we swam 50m freestyle in 25.51 which was the eighth fastest time out of n fewer than 176 competitor. Harry finished seventh in the final  whilst the event was won by Ben Blowers of the City of Norwich club in 24.29.

After three week ends of competing, Vikings won 10 Golds 5 Silvers and 3 Bronze medals and achieved 12 Regional qualifying times. At the conclusion, Lead Coach Sam said

“ Whilst it’s satisfying to see Vikings amongst the medals, the best measure of our progress can be seen in the amount of swimmers qualifying for this year’s championships .We had almost three times as many there than we had last ”

Congratulations to all who qualified for the CC this year and to all our relay racers who swam in the final session

 

Coach Sam Smashes Regional Masters Record

Lead Coach Sam smashed the Eastern Region 800m freestyle record at the Crawley Competition with a winning time of 10.46.78 for his age category. The record stood for eleven years at 11.48.45

Ironically although he swam in adjacent lanes to other swimmers he was the only swimmer in this category so Sam decided to swim against the clock. Sam’s swim was the fourth fasted over all out of a field of 27 competitors from all the different categories combined.

“When I saw the previous record, I knew I could have a good go at braking it when I entered . After the swim I realised that I had broken the 800m long course record by 1 minute, 2 seconds.” explained Sam when he proudly displayed his gold medal.

Club Swimming Gala has competitive edge.

There was a competitive edge, sibling rivalries and exciting finger tip finishes at the North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club Championships held at the Victory Pool; all of which nestled into a friendly atmosphere amongst the competitors . As expected there were a number of Viking skirmishes  and some stoic swims from  the juniors.

Lily Dear hit a six of gold medals  Over the 50m freestyle  she easily won the event in 37.31 defeating nine fellow Vikings. Lily’s second gold came in the 50m breastsroke with 0.51 well ahead of five competitors. Lily, aged 10, then  claimed a hat-trick of golds by proving her versatility when she triumphed in the 200m freestyle (3:10.34)  and then she came home in 1.27.25 taking the 100m. Reverting back to breastroke her fifth gold was achieved in the 200m (4.02.66) and she added the 100m with her 1:55.84 respectively.

Perhaps two of the most courageous swims came from 11 year olds, Bebe King and Leona Scott in their first  200m Individual Medley (IM). covering eight lengths of the pool on all four strokes. Bebe won the event in 3.46.37 and Leona touched in 4.39.91. to take the silver respectively. Both have only just started competing and their tenacity delighted the spectators to see them complete the swim. Bebe later went on to win the 100m IM in 1:44.12

Brothers George and Zak Edridge  of Tunstead, made their races a real contest and although George won more medals than his twin brother, the balance of power was shared on either side of the lane ropes in respective breaststroke events. In the 200m it was Zak winning in 3:33.62  and won a second gold in the 50m with 44.4 with George the runner up in both events. However, in the 100m it was George who was victorious over his brother when he scored 1:43.56. whilst Zak had to settle for the silver with only half a second separating the two 13 year olds.

Senior Harry Hudson has had an exceptional year for the Vikings achieving a number of regional times.  Harry will be out to build upon his  club championships successes of 100m freestyle (56.97) 50m Freestyle (25.61), 100m butterfly (1:07.72) 50m Butterfly (1:07.72) and 100 individual Medley (1:03.8) at next month’s County Championships.

Noah Buchan also won 5  gold medals, Michael Sayer 6 and Leah Harris 6.

Emily Has Time To Remember

Continuing with our busy schedule of competitions, we were in action at the November Short Course Gala held at the UEA Sports Park Norwich. Our swimmers did not disappoint as more than twenty-seven took the plunge against teams from all over the Eastern Region.

It will be a competition which 14 year old Emily Beighton will remember for a long time. After a lot of perseverance, hard work and tenacity the Broadland High School student from Bacton finally achieved her county qualifying time of 1:33.28 over 100m Breaststroke. Over 50m, Emily completed the two lengths in 41.5 for the bronze.

Ellen Eccleston came away with two gold medals in back to back  breaststroke events in her age group In the 100m . Breaststroke 1.15.67 200m 2.50.13 Ellen made it it three medals when she finished in bronze medal place in 2:34.84 for 200m backstroke.

In the 100m butterfly, Emily Morton improved her time by five seconds to take a silver medal in 1:17.10 and then added a bronze in 1:06.2 over this distance in the freestyle.

Aylsham’s Toby Corfield also took gold in his age group when he touched first in 1:37.62 for his 100m backstroke. The young man, aged 9  went onto win a silver in the 50m breastroke in 55.78 ,another  silver in the 100m freestyle 1.34.12 and a bronze in the 50m butterfly with 50.03. Toby won more medals than any other Viking Swimmer and there were not many competitors leaving the pool with more.

Senior and out going Captain Harry Hudson, was involved in a  finger tip finish in the 100m freestyle when he hit the pad in 54.80 a split second behind Abram Jack who won in  54.06. He was just out side the medals in the 50m  freestyle 25.85. but gained a  bronze over the same distance for butterfly with 27.86.

Reuben Seaman, was a double bronze medallist. He got one for his 200m breststroke in 3:54.30 and the other in the100m with his 1:54.37 respectively.

Bebe King, looked very promising in the 200 IM. The root of her confidence must have steamed from the one she acompledged  in the club championships when she finished in 3.46.37/ However, in the November gala. she improved by an outstanding sixteen seconds in 3:30.97 for bronze

Grace Parker, has without doubt been training well and during her heat, she looked super fast and took a silver in 100 IM when she finished in 1:41.22 Her first success in this event.

Noah Buchan proved how versatile he was when he he added two silver medals to our tally. In the 200m freestyle (2:38.47) and the 50m backstroke in (39.94) respectively

We were also delighted to see in the team, Jess Seamark, Lily Dear, Evie Bates, Ruby Tracey, Baille Beighton ,Winnie Browne, Ashley Jones, Maisie Fagan, Archie Haughan-Zelos, Razvan Platton, William Coop and our club captain Rebecca Burrows. Thank you all for representing Vikings.

 

 

Double Bronze For Viking Masters

Sam & Spike

Our lead coach Sam led by example as he competed in the English National Masters Competition in Sheffield . In the 800m freestyle, Sam was up against a strong field of  seven competitors over 32 lengths of the pool. Dan John of Reading was the run away winner when he finished in 8:46.53 but Sam came in third for the bronze medal in 9:48.31. Sam had earlier come sixth in the 400m in 4:38.74

In complete contrast, Spike Buchan swam the shorter distances of 50m and 100m backstroke. After finishing fifth in the 100m with !:13.48  he turned to the 50m and  after a close finish, he went 32.82 to earn Viking’s first bronze of the competition  However, although he did not medal, Spike finished thirteenth in the 100m free in an impressive time of 1:00.92.  Club Chairperson Sarah also represented the club in the 1,500m and finished in eighth spot with 24:44.09 after 60 hard lengths of the pool

Viking Ellen is top girl at Gala

Ellen Eccleston certainly set the pace for the Vikings at the Iceni Swimming Gala hosted by Dereham Otters when she took a staggering nine golds and two silvers medals, subsequently winning the top girl trophy.

“I must have been more focused on my breaststroke events as I  gained three regional qualifying times to compliment my three gold medals  in my age group.” explained the modest 14 year old Aylsham High School student.

In the 200m she paced the race perfectly. Just before the 175m mark Ellen knew she had more to offer and when she came off the turn for the final 25, there was only going to be one winner as she came back from behind to touch first in 2:50.93 from  Millie Harris, of the Wisbech club  who went 3:04.82 . Ellen record the fastest time over the distance in the gala for any age group. Vikings were strong in this event too as Emily Beighten finished in fourth with  3:30.58 and Rebecca Burrows with a very creditable sixth spot in 3:39.73. It was comfortable again for Ellen  in both the 100m 1:18.09 and 50m 36.03.respectively. However, in the 200 Individual Medley (IM) she was made to fight all the way to the finish as she tussled with  Amelia Saunders  of St Felix School, Southwold in one of the most exciting and closest finishes. Ellen proved she was not just a one stroke swimmer as all stokes have to be demonstrated in this event. Only the electronic timing could separate them at the finish as Ellen hit the pad first in 2::35.20  from Amelia’s 2:35.65.

Leah Harris was also a worthy contender for top girl as she went away with five gold medals in an older age group. Where Ellen dominated the breaststroke events, Leah took a clean sweep of the freestyle events. The 20 year from Cromer won the 200m in 2:15.78 and led from the gun in the 100m, completing the first 50m in 30.09 and although she faded a little towards the finish, Leah subsequently held on to achieve a regional qualifying time of 1:01.77  as only split seconds decided the top three places. It was another close one in the 50m as she finished in 28.4 Her other two golds were 100m butterfly 1:09.59 and the 50m breaststroke 36.89 respectively.

Senior Club Captain Harry Hudson swam two exceptional races. In the 100m butterfly 1:02.44 he won by a split second over Harry Weston’s 1:02.93 5 representing Dereham  and the the 50m freestyle he scored 25.58 in another close race. Both his times were regional qualifiers as was his silver medal time of 55.46 for 100m freestyle.

In the juniors, 12 year old Noah Buchan left with a gold in the 200m IM in 3:07.84 and Toby Caufield aged 10 won the 50m breaststoke in 1:01.04. as both achieved respective county qualifying times.

However, it was the consolation medals and personal achievements which were equally noticeable. As for Emily Morton, medals are currently something of the norm as she is enjoying more success. A silver to start with in the 100m butterfly with 1.19.34, and two  bronze medals in the 50m backstroke ( 37.90) and the 100m freestyle (1.09.38) respectively. The 14 year old achieved personal best times and recorded County qualifying times on each outing

Medals kept on coming with Josh Twining’s 200m freestyle in 2:18.44 for bronze and in the 200m Breaststroke he went one better with a silver in 2:59.71. The latter event qualified him for the County Championships in the new year.

Ruby Tracy, 18 fought hard to deservedly win two bronze medals  The first of which was the 100m backstroke when she  finished in 1.18.19 and her other, the 200m breaststroke scoring 3.11.07 just one second outside the silver.

Ashley Jones also of North Walsham not only achieved a bronze medal, his time of  29.34 for the 50m freestyle was both a personal best and a County qualifying time for the 16 year old.

Toby Davidson, 16,  proved to all how he has matured as an athlete. He demonstrated a fluent 100m butterfly and reduced his time by almost 13 seconds to to claim a silver. Equally in the same age group, Jess Seamark won her first medal for the club, a bronze in 1:16.42 over the same distance but in freestyle.

Twin brothers George and Zak Edridge had already qualified for next year’s County Championships prior to the gala but were ready for battle again. In their favourable stoke over 100m breaststroke, it was the turn of Zak to finish ahead of his 12 year old brother in 1:42.16 to claim a bronze as his brother’s 1:44.86. gave him a fourth. However, George beat Zak in the 50m backstroke but  neither of them medalled in the event.

To conclude this gala bronze medals went to Rebecca Burrows in the 200m backstroke 3.03.40 and two  for Reuben Seaman. The 200 IM in 3:48.05 and the 50m butterfly in 54.78 respectively. Both his times were County qualifying times. 

At the conclusion Ellen Eccleston was presented with her Top Girl Trophy by Dereham Otters President Kevin Rumsey and Vikings achieved 19 golds, 10 silvers, 17 bronze, 54 County qualifying times, 10 Regional qualifying times and 91personal best times. Sam Watts, our  lead coach said “We were simply up there with the best”

 

Bebe Takes Full Advantage at Swim Gala

Bebe King took full advantage at the “Summer Splash”  gala held at the UEA  hosted my Gt Yarmouth Swimming Club. The Year 7 North Walsham High School student entered seven events and medalled in all as the North Norfolk Vikings competed in respective age group categories.

In her first event, Bebe demonstrated her all round ability on all strokes when she took a silver in the 100m Individual Medley with 1:41.8:  this proved to be  a fore runner for what was to come. It was her  powerful, nonchalant, longer strokes where she took full advantage. This undoubtedly contributed to her to success  when she won the 25m freestyle in just 17.62 and victory again in the 25m breaststroke  when she went 25.95. Her third gold was the 25m backstroke when she touched in 21:89. and to conclude her seven medal haul, the 11 year old  came home first in 21.89 over the same distance on backstroke to clinch her fourth gold.

Reuben Seaman  collected three more gold medals. The 10 year old dominated the 100m Individual Medley finishing in 1:44.03 but in his 50m freestyle, he was pushed all the way by Charlie Pickering of Great Yarmouth and it was only the electronic timing which could separate them as Reuben touched in 41.29 from Charlie’s 41.43 respectively.

North Norfolk Vikings also won another hat-trick of golds, this time through 10 year old Toby Caufield all over 50m. In the freestyle 45.01,  backstroke  51.12  and breaststroke 1:00.15.  However, Toby was not finished there he won a bronze in the 50m butterfly with his 59.60.

The gold medals continued to be achieved and two more followed by two 10 year olds.  Lily Dear in the 50m freestyle with 37.63. when she defeated a field of eighteen swimmers and Grace Parker winning the 25m butterfly event in 20.65. in a close finger tip finish beating seven competitors . Meanwhile, both 12 year old Bailee Breighton and 13 year old Razvan Platon won consolation medals in respective events.

“I was delighted for the swimmers who gained just reward for all their hard work and commitment. Whilst technique is improving, our younger swimmers are exceeding all expectations at the moment whilst .every team member came in the top three at least twice.”  John

Vikings won 12 Golds  10 Silvers and  4 Bronze Medals

 

 

Isaac Is Awarded Swimming Scholarship

 

Isaac Buchan of Beston Regies has been awarded a swimming scholarship by St Felix School in Southwold. The 13 year old North Norfolk Vikings Club Swimmer is about to start the new school term training under the auspices of former Sprowston High School student and GB team Manager Suzanne Purchase. He finished at  Beeston Hall School in July, where he attended with his younger brother Noah, who also swims for the Vikings.

The scholarship has come about as a result of his excellent swims with the Vikings from when he first joined as an 8. year old. Subsequently this has provided him with a platform for him to succeed further. His main focus has been the freestyle events. In his respective age group he was runner up in the 800m in the Regionals as well as achieving 10 additional regional qualifying times.  He reached the Independent Schools final held at the London Aquatic Centre and upon leaving Beeston he held all 19 records for year 8 boys. He also holds 4 Vikings records.

His swimming achievements have not just been confined to pools. He has competed open water events too. He also came runner up in the Norfolk Open water Championships held at Whitlingham.  When asked about his scholarship

“I am really looking forward to be able to do my swimming alongside my schooling. I currently have a long way to travel for training, but at St Felix this will not be a problem. I can then be more focused to achieving national times and entries next year. The coaches at Vikings have really helped me on my way and hopefully will put me in a good place for the next chapter.” remarked Isaac.

MEDALS ACHIEVED BY ALL

Every North Norfolk Viking Swimmer won a medal at the Diss development gala  when they competed in various junior age group categories and six swimmers got hold of one for the very first time.

The favourable distance was over 25m freestyle where Alice Dickerty won gold in the 25m freestyle with 20.08. This was followed by Layla Callaby silver 20.63, Fearne Sadler silver 23.56,  Isobel Chaplin silver 18.62. and Clara Farrow bronze 18.81

In the 25 m backstroke. Vikings made it a clean sweep of medals with Alice Dickerty taking her second gold, just touching first in 20.08 from Layla Callaby’s silver  20.63 and Rosa Sadler’s bronze in 21.94, leaving the rest of the pack to traipse in; four seconds adrift.

Razvan Platon won no fewer than four gold medals, most impressive was his 100m Individual Medley when he hit the pad in 1:48.28.  Reuben Seaman entered four events and won them all. In his 50m breaststroke, the 9 year old broke a minute in 0:59.56. It was also in the breststroke when Fearne Sadler achieved her very first medal – a gold in  the 25m in 32.9.  Isobel Bird’s medal came a little later when she achieved a silver in the 25m breatstroke in her  first gala when she went under  thirty seconds in 29.84.

Evie Bates from Sheringham, bagged three golds and like Razvan earlier, it was the Individual Medley where she defeated a strong field of ten and excelled by completing the 100m course in 1:40.31 from Viking’s Be-be King’s 1:45.41 who took the silver medal spot. Be-be herself became a double gold medal holder winning in both the 50m freestyle in 17.84 and the 50m butterfly in 21.37respectively.

Bailee Beighton, of Bacton achieved four medals, three of which were silver and one bronze. His best was the 50m freestyle when he won silver in 42.14.

At the conclusion of the gala, Sam Watts lead coach to the Vikings said

“Our junior swimmers have progressed beyond all expectations recently as more youngsters continue to join our development squad.”

To join vikings e-mail them on  info@norfolkvikings.co.uk