Eight swimmers from Guernsey Swimming Club delivered outstanding performances at the Hampshire County Championships, held on the weekend of 1st and 2nd February at The Winchester Sports and Leisure Centre. Competing in a 50m (Olympic-sized) pool—an environment they rarely have the opportunity to train in—the team rose to the challenge, collectively swimming 40 races, reaching 15 finals, and securing an impressive medal haul: 6 Gold, 3 Silver, and 2 Bronze.
Scarlett-Rose Foss, the youngest competitor for the team, put in a determined effort across her events and secured a place in the final of the 100m Butterfly.
Emma Bourgaize had an exceptional weekend, reaching six finals. Her most dominant performance came in the 50m Butterfly final, where she clinched Gold with a remarkable lead of nearly two seconds over her nearest competitor. She finished the competition with a total of three Gold and three Silver medals.
Luke Le Cras also made his mark, qualifying for four finals out of his five races. He claimed Gold in the 100m Breaststroke and took home Bronze in both the 50m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle.
Olly Stephens produced some fantastic swims, achieving long-course personal bests in most of his races. He narrowly missed out on a final in the 100m Butterfly but demonstrated great progress throughout the weekend.
Samuel Cann delivered a superb performance, securing double Gold in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke, further showcasing the Club’s strength in breaststroke events.
The Championships began earlier in the year, with the first weekend of racing taking place on 11th and 12th January. Guernsey Swimming Club was represented in the 15 and over distance events by 16-year-old Olly Stephens and Chloe Sarre. Competing in a 50m pool for these gruelling long-distance races was a new experience for both swimmers. Olly took on both the 1,500m and 800m Freestyle, while Chloe competed in the 800m Freestyle. Despite it being their first time racing the 800m Freestyle in a long-course pool, both athletes showed great endurance and determination.
Head Coach Heather Jackson reflected on the team’s success, saying:
“All of the swimmers made me proud and represented their club to a high standard at all times. Their achievements across the weekends are a testament to their hard work in training, and I look forward to seeing what the rest of 2025 brings for them all.”
With such a strong start to the year, Guernsey Swimming Club swimmers have set the stage for an exciting season ahead.
