11 new records set in Guernsey Swimming Club Puffin Gala

The Guernsey Swimming Club recently held their Puffin Gala producing some excellent swims with 11 new records set by some promising swimmers for the future.   Although run by ASA rules the Puffin Gala is low key primarily aimed at the young novice swimmers to enable them to gain confidence and experience, races range from pre-school float races, 5m, 10m in the small pool to 25m in the large pool.  For many of the young swimmers this was their first ever swimming gala excitement and nerves were a plenty for parent and swimmers a like.

Kicking off the event was the girls and boys 6 years under 25m freestyle, Tara Kennedy won the girls event with Lydia Nelson 2^nd and Coco Despres 3^rd  following closely behind.  Regan Penny stormed ahead to win both 6 year boys events with Theo Jones taking second place. Tara  produced  a strong swim in the 25m backstroke just missing out on a new record, with Coco placing 2^nd.

Following her sisters form 7 year old Hannah Kennedy placed 1^st in the 25m backstroke, 25m freestyle and set a new record in the 25m breaststroke.   Also producing some excellent  PB’s Amber Kerr  placed 2^nd in both the backstroke and freestyle 3^rd places were won by Sienna Robins in the freestyle and Sarah Le Huray in the backstroke.

The first new record  of the day was stet by 7 year old James Hancock winning the 25m backstroke James also placed 2^nd in the 25m freestyle.  Not to be out done by, Harry Ruddy broke the record in the 25m freestyle claiming 1^st place and 2^nd in the 25m backstroke.  3^rd places were won by Jayden Creber in the backstroke and Harry Heaume in the freestyle.

With an excellent swim Millie Vaudin not only won but set a new record in the girls 8 years 25 breaststroke.   A strong performance saw Ebony  Lowndes win  both the 8yrs Freestyle and backstroke races and placed 2^nd in the breaststroke whilst Morgan Hamon claimed 2^nd places in the freestyle, backstroke and third in the breaststroke.  3^rd place for the freestyle was won by Emma Battle. Allan Campbell won both the freestyle and backstroke races in the boys events.

Maisy Batiste won both freestyle and backstroke placing 3rd in the breaststroke in the well contested  girls 9 years and over  events. Emma Sykes placed 1^st  in the Breaststroke and 3^rd in the backstroke with new comer Flo Wenlock finishing closely behind placing 2^nd in all three of her events with the 3^rd place in the freestyle going to Emma Battle.  Not to be outdone by the girls John Le Huray won all of his events placing 1^st in the Freestyle, Backstroke and breaststroke with Eddie Ruddy placing 2^nd in the backstroke and Breaststroke and 3^rd in the freestyle with William Kilpatrick placing 2^nd in the freestyle and 3^rd in the backstroke.

Moving  on to the small pool events 5 year old record breaker  Emma Bourgaize won the 10m freestyle improving the old record by nearly 4 seconds she continued her form by smashing the backstroke record by 7.56 seconds.  Jamie McKane placed 2^nd in freestyle and 3^rd in the backstroke, with Freya Thoumine placing  2^nd in the backstroke and Phoebe Batiste 3^rd in the freestyle.

Records also tumbled in the 5 years and under boys events Brodie De Jersey placed 1^st in the freestyle  with Joseph Lee close behind him both boys were inside the old record time, Oliver Stephens came 3^rd in the freestyle but broke the backstroke record coming 1^st with Joseph Lee coming 2^nd.

6 year old Grace Reid set a new record in the backstroke and also won the freestyle, Kaydie Page placed 2^nd in the backstroke and 3^rd in the freestyle, Ruby Dowding 3^rd in the backstroke and Orla Oliver came 2^nd in the freestyle.    Oliver Marsh won both his small pool events setting  a new record time in freestyle, Alexander De Lisle who was also inside the old record came 2^nd  and 3^rd in the backstroke with  Ben Bramley close behind coming  2^nd in the backstroke and 3^rd in the freestyle.   7 year old Daniel Cummings took the honours in the 7 and over freestyle event.

5 Year old Jake Jones won the 5m with race with Benjamin Silk coming 2^nd.  3 year old Chloe Thoumine and Ryan Stephens placed first in the Pre-School girls and boys events, with Benjamin Silk winning the 10m float race with Jake Jones and Kobe Cloarec kicking close behind him.

In the 25m girls small pool swimmers only event the first 8 swimmers were all inside the old record however Emma’s outstanding performance saw her win the race taking 15.14 seconds off the old record.  Alexander Des Lisle took the honours in the boys race and both swimmers were awarded the Dunster trophies for their 25m swims.