Vikings In Medal Haul At Swim Gala
A strong junior North Norfolk Vikings Swimming team descended on Dereham Leisure Centre for the Easter Mini Meet ably hosted by the Dereham Otters Swimming Club and achieved thirty seven medals in one afternoon.
Brother and sister Finn and Layla Callaby got the Vikings off to a flying start by winning golds as early as the first and second events. They were both achieved over 50m backstroke when Finn went 55.26 and his elder sister Layla touched in 40.41.respectively. There was more backstroke success over the same distance when Imogen Laws won her first gold of the afternoon with 41.62 with Anna Thurston and Milly Edridge making it a bronze each.
Over 100m backstroke, the female quartet all medalled again with both Layla and Imogen collecting their second golds in 1:31.25 and 1:36.72 respectively. Anna Thurston went one better with a silver in 1:36.29 and Milly, meanwhile, gained her second bronze of the afternoon with 1:47.27.Anna, Layla and Imogen went on to have an outstanding gala all winning six medals each.
Anna Turner made a successful return to the Dereham pool and repeated her form from last October Anna swam 47.30 for gold in the 50m butterfly and then in the 100m breaststroke, took bronze with 1:53.04. In the final event of the day, the 100m freestyle, she made it a hat trick in another personal best time of 1:24.84 claiming silver.
Holly Cartwright won her very first gold medal for the club in the 100m freestyle, covering the course in 1:50.43. Her 10 year old twin sister Tessa, earned two bronze medals respectively for 50m freestyle 47.89 and 50m breaststroke 1.06.81.Their eldest sister, 12 year old Isla rose to the challenge when she swam all the strokes over 100m Individual Medley finishing third in 1.50.29 to collect a bronze.
First time gold medals also came from Niamh Corfield in 1:09:58 and Lucy Fincher who scored 1:04:63. as both recorded personal best times over 50m breastroke in respective age groups as did Willow Hopkin for 50m freestyle. in 48.21 Willow added a silver to her gold for 50m breaststroke 1.10.21.
Niamh Corfield found her self in the medals again when she went 58.01 for 50m freestyle achieving a bronze. It was the same distance and event when Isla Haynes, gained a silver 50m freestyle in 41.54 for her respective age group.
Lexie Parker, Darcy Lee, Amelia Hudson, Emilia Sequeira-Reis, Heidi Smith and Zerif Gokmen. all swam well even though they did not medal this time.