Barry swimmers on great winning form (From Barry And District News)

Barry swimmers on great winning form

SEVEN of Barry Amateur Swimming Club's young swimmers volunteered to take part in the Rhondda open.

And it was really worth the effort - even the early start.

All swimmers achieved at least one personal best time, several club records fell and the medal haul was fantastic, with a Barry swimmer reaching finals in virtually every event entered.

There were three golds; one was won by Balazs Vincze in the 100m freestyle who, having come second fastest in the heats in a personal best, found a little more for the final and touched home first by a whisker. And he broke his club record at the same time.

He also won a silver medal in the 100m IM and completed the set with a bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

Alice Lewis, who along with Balazs and Alana Wilson, was one of the three brave enough to swim both early morning sessions, saw her efforts rewarded with a magnificent gold in the 10 and under 100m fly on the Sunday afternoon, all the sweeter as she had had to swim the distance twice in about an hour.

Alice also won a bronze medal for the 100m IM and a fourth place medal in the 100m breaststroke. All her medals were won in personal best times and in fly and breaststroke taking club records.

Ryan Looker, swimming at 13 and under, won silver in the 100m IM in a personal best, in a club record time. He saved his best for a brilliant gold in the 100m Fly with a 13 second personal best time/14 and under club record.

Alana Wilson picked up two medals, an impressive bronze in the nine and under 50m breaststroke and a fifth place medal in the 50m freestyle, both swum in personal best times and the freestyle just missing the 10 and under club record.

Rebecca McTavish competed on the Saturday sessions, winning a bronze medal in the 10 and under 100m backstroke and a fifth place medal in the 100m freestyle, achieving a nine second personal best time in the latter event, both club records.

The youngest competitor was Georgia Looker who was eight in January and she competed at nine and under in the 50m backstroke, 50m fly and the 100m IM. She won a fifth place medal for fly and another fifth for the 100m IM breaking her own club record.

She also had the second fastest heat time in the backstroke, achieving a four second personal best and setting a club record.

Special mention should go to Dominique De Claire, who swam in the nine and under 50m freestyle and achieved a personal best time, even though she was unwell.

Two further guaranteed medals were also missed out on due to technical disqualifications. Bring on the next open meeting with more Barry ASC swimmers' success to write about.