South Lincs Swimming Club took more than 50 swimmers to the Deepings Swimming Club Rob Welbourne Open Meet in Grantham and achieved some incredible results.
New head coach Adrian Garlike said: “I was blown away by the performance of the whole squad for an early season meet.
“The new training methods implemented at the club, along with the positive attitude of the swimmers and the coaching team have shown that this season, and the future of the club is in great shape.
“I am really looking forward to seeing what this group of talented swimmers can achieve.”
Senior swimmers Oscar Goldsmith, Matteo Monaco and Bradley Holland led the way, claiming 13 medals between them in the boys’ 15 years and over category.
Goldsmith took home eight medals with Gold in the 200m individual medley, 100m and 200m breaststroke and the 200m freestyle, setting three new short course personal best times.
Holland was struggling with a shoulder injury but took gold in the 50m backstroke with a PB of 30.85 seconds. He also won bronze in the 50m freestyle, breaking the 26-second mark for the first time.
Monaco swam his less favoured events and dramatically lowered his fly personal bests in all distances, the best coming in the difficult 200m with a five-second decrease. He also broke the 30-second barrier for the first time in the 50m and finished off with silver in the 200m breaststroke.
Francesco Monaco, Kieron Lucy and Anas Lachheb also had a successful weekend, bringing 17 medals home.
Monaco continued to impress, winning six gold medals in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle, 50m and 200m fly, and 200m breaststroke in the boys’ 11/12 age group.
Like older brother Matteo, Francesco’s best performance was in the 200m fly, lowering his PB by a stunning 29 seconds, breaking the three-minute mark for the first time. His impressive weekend saw him lower his PB in every event.
Lucy, competing in the 13/14 year old age group, took gold in the 100m freestyle, coming in under the minute mark for the first time with an impressive 59.26. He also won four silver medals in the 100m individual medley, 50m backstroke, 200m freestyle and the 100m fly.
Lachheb took gold in his favourite 100m breaststroke and completed his medal set with silver in the 50m breaststroke and bronze in the 50m backstroke.
Lucy and Lachheb also achieved PBs in the majority of their events.
Emilijus Binkis had a terrific meet, competing in 12 events and lowering his times in every one. Most impressively, he lowered his 100m backstroke time by 19 seconds, his 50m fly by five seconds, 200m breaststroke by 16 seconds and finally 100m and 200m individual medley by 11 seconds each.
Malin Fyson is in great form and recorded a huge 43-second best in the 200m backstroke, 26 seconds in the 100m fly and a 19-second improvement in the 200m individual medley, taking a silver medal in the process.
Girls’ 9/10 swimmer Esme Lucas lowered her times in all events she competed in, adding a bronze medal in the process and qualifying for the Lincolnshire County Championships for the first time.
In the younger boys’ categories, Thomas Vere and Ethan Lucy contributed more success, with Vere taking gold in the 200m backstroke, 100m backstroke and the 200 breaststroke. Lucy won silver in the 200m backstroke, lowering his best by 17 seconds, and bronze in the 100m backstroke.
Eight more South Lincs swimmers added to the total medal haul – Emily Briggs, 200m fly gold and 200m backstroke bronze in the 200m girls’ 13/14 and Daniela Bringeman, Alex Sadler, Charlie Ward, Eydee Chilvers, Kacper Zajac, Seth Clayton and Sigourney Bolton.
