RECORD-BREAKING PUFFIN GALA SHOWCASES BRIGHT FUTURE FOR GUERNSEY SWIMMING CLUB
Sunday 5th July – Puffin Gala Press Release
The future of local swimming was on full display this weekend as the Guernsey Swimming Club hosted its annual Puffin Gala. The event showcases some of the club’s youngest talent, bringing together junior swimmers from as young as three years old up to those preparing for their first competitive junior squads. This year’s gala saw one of the largest turnouts in recent years, with around 90 enthusiastic young swimmers taking part. From the shallow waters of the small pool to the lengths of the main pool, the gala offered a broad spectrum of challenges suited to every developmental stage. The youngest competitors gained valuable experience in the 5-meter width and 10-meter float and stroke races, while the older junior cohorts tested their progression over 25 and 50 meters. The entire event was made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers and officials whose hard work behind the scenes ensured the morning ran as smoothly as possible.
The standout performance of the meet belonged to seven-year-old Orla Gosling. Competing in the Female 7 Year Olds 25m Breaststroke, Gosling delivered an excellent swim to clock 30.59 seconds, breaking the previous event record of 33.86 seconds held since 2022. It proved to be the only record broken during the gala, highlighting a promising phase for Gosling as she prepares to transition into the club’s first competitive junior squad this coming September. She also showed good versatility across the morning, claiming victory in the 25m Freestyle in 22.78 seconds and securing a third-place finish in the 25m Backstroke in 27.38 seconds.
Reflecting on the performances, Club President Chris Butt said, “It’s great to see our swimming pathway success and the future of what swimming in Guernsey could look like. Some of these swimmers could make it to compete at future Island and Commonwealth Games and it’s great to see some of them competing for the first time.”
In the small pool, the club’s youngest athletes demonstrated excellent focus and competitive spirit. Four-year-old Tyler Ellis performed strongly in the Open/Male 5 & Under 10m Freestyle, recording a time of 16.13 seconds to finish ahead of five-year-olds Alfie Le Page (19.22) and Charlie Mitchinson (19.72). Ellis followed this up by also securing the 10m Backstroke title in 28.75 seconds. Meanwhile, Elodie Le Noury, aged four, showcased good foundational skills by winning the Female 6 & Under 10m Float race in 32.47 seconds, finishing just ahead of Imogen Tavender-Airley. In the 6 Year Olds 10m Freestyle, Inara Penney clocked 16.79 seconds to edge out Emillie Maxwell (18.37) in a closely contested race.
As the action shifted to the main pool, the racing remained highly competitive across all junior age groups. In the 6 & Under age group, Zara Correia led the girls with a winning time of 31.91 seconds in the 25m Freestyle, followed closely by Alana Le Noury in 32.53 seconds. Correia completed a double by later winning the 25m Backstroke in 34.59 seconds. For the boys, Charlie Jackson took the 25m Freestyle title in 32.22 seconds, while Freddie Tavender-Airley claimed the 25m Backstroke in 37.72 seconds. Among the seven-year-olds, Johnny Woodington enjoyed a successful gold medal gala, winning the 25m Freestyle in 22.87 seconds, the 25m Backstroke in 25.41 and the 25m Breaststroke in 36.50 seconds, while Una Massey also tasted victory by capturing the girls’ 25m Backstroke title in 27.09 seconds.
The older juniors stepped up to the 50-meter distances, showing good stamina in the main pool. Carson Truffitt, aged 10, led the boys’ section by claiming the 50m Freestyle in 40.59 seconds and the 50m Backstroke in 45.94 seconds. George Lanyon, aged 9, took gold in the 50m Breaststroke. For the girls, Mariana Andre Jorge, also 10, clinched the 50m Freestyle in 43.53 seconds, while 11-year-old Eva Ashby took top honors in the 50m Backstroke with a time of 51.59 seconds. Rounding out the senior junior performances, Chloe Peterson, 11, led the field in the 50m Breaststroke, stopping the clock at 55.60 seconds.
Club Head Coach Heather Jackson praised the overall atmosphere and effort of the competitors, adding, “All of our swimmers should be incredibly proud of their achievements this morning. Some great races and great sportsmanship shining through.”
Following the excitement of the gala, the young swimmers will now head back into their regular training sessions for the final weeks of the term to build on their new times before the club takes its well-earned summer break. The Puffin Gala once again highlighted the vibrant grassroots pathway at the Guernsey Swimming Club, leaving coaches, parents, and volunteers pleased with the development of the island’s next generation of aquatic talent.
