Guernsey Swimming Club’s Puffin Gala Showcases Future Stars

The Guernsey Swimming Club’s annual Puffin Gala provided a thrilling weekend of competition, excitement, and personal achievements, as young swimmers aged 3 to 11 took to the pool to showcase their skills. Held over two sessions, the event welcomed many first-time competitors, offering them a friendly introduction to racing and perhaps a glimpse into a bright future in the sport.

One of the most heartwarming moments of the weekend came from the youngest participant, 3-year-old Langa Mangena, who took part in the 10m float race and 5m width race in the small pool. With a beaming smile and an undeniable love for the water, Langa delighted spectators and embodied the true spirit of the Puffin Gala.
Amongst the younger swimmers, 4-year-old Miley-Reece Hicks put on an incredible display, securing gold in the 10m backstroke and bronze in the 10m freestyle. She further demonstrated her determination by clinching another gold in the 25m freestyle race.

In the girls’ 7 & under category, 6-year-old Orla Gosling and 7-year-old Lailee Loveridge engaged in a competitive yet friendly rivalry throughout their events. Orla finished with two gold and one silver medal, while Lailee earned two silvers and one gold. Hot on their heels was Daisy Boatwright-Smith, who displayed great perseverance to claim three bronze medals.

The boys’ 7 & under events saw standout performances as well, with 6-year-old Johnny Woodington storming to gold in the 25m freestyle, finishing an impressive five seconds ahead of his closest competitor. Hudson King, 7, added two silver medals in the backstroke and freestyle, while 5-year-old Charlie Jackson impressed with his consistency across his races.

The older swimmers also put on remarkable performances. Mollie Boatwright-Smith collected an impressive medal haul with two golds and two silvers. Her golds came from the 100m Individual Medley and the 25m Butterfly, both of which were hard-fought victories. In the 9-year-old girls’ 50m freestyle, Faye Castle edged out Mollie to claim gold in a new personal best time.
Oliver Grierson, 9, dominated the boys’ 8-9 years category, winning an astounding five gold medals while setting impressive new times. Meanwhile, in the 10-11 years age group, Lexi Rault and Lily Smith battled it out across multiple races, demonstrating great progress in their training. 10-year-old Poppy Sargent was also in close contention and has another year to continue improving in this category.

One of the most thrilling moments of the weekend came from the boys’ 10-11 years 50m breaststroke, where 10-year-olds James Eley and Cameron Le Tissier delivered a nail-biting finish. Eley managed to touch the wall just 0.30 seconds ahead of Le Tissier in an electrifying race that had spectators on the edge of their seats.

Reflecting on the event, Head Coach Heather Jackson praised the young swimmers: “It was an amazing race which really got the spectators and swimmers cheering! The atmosphere was great. All swimmers swam excellently this weekend and they should be so proud. For a small club, we really do have some great talent, and that goes down to their determination in training.”

The Puffin Gala continues to be a fantastic stepping stone for the club’s young swimmers, fostering a love for competition in a supportive and inspiring environment. With talent emerging across all age groups, the future of swimming for the club looks incredibly bright.

For photos from the meet, please click here.