AMEET that originated in the Penarth leisure centre 27 years ago proved it is still going swimmingly when it was held at Cardiff International Pool.

The Cardiff Bay Sprint Meet took place on Saturday, July 4.

27 years go the event was set up by Brian Hardwicke as the GRE Sprint Meet, held in the Cogan pool, and the competition was over two days.

This event is now organized by the Barry Amateur Swimming Club as a one day event with Barry members starting out at 7.30 am with the last members leaving Cardiff after 7 pm.

The Gala was attended by twenty clubs –mostly from Wales but Cinderford SC and Wantage SC also brought swimmers. The Gala is classed as a Level 3 Meet but caters for swimmers at two levels of swimming.

Medals are presented for the first three places in four strokes plus a Kick Race – which is really a fun event.

Then the top 10 swimmers over all in each age group and each stroke, other than the Kick Race, are entered into an Individual Medley Race in the last session with a prize of £10 for the winner in each group.

Many swimmers left the Gala with several medals gained from their swims and we received many thanks from swimmers and Clubs for a most enjoyable Gala.

Speeding Tickets were issued to some swimmers who exceeded the top time given for each race.

This was in fact a well-earned result as they had obviously swum faster than their previous best time for the race.

Additionally two cups are presented to swimmers - the nine year old swimmer who earns the most points over all wins the Rowland Jones Cup and the twelve year old swimmer with the most points wins the Brian Hardwicke Cup each year.

This year there were three nine-year-old swimmers who had a top score of 31 points each – Eleanor Emes of Monnow SC, Amy Crowley of City of Cardiff SC and Cody Franielczyk of Pontypridd SC – they won the Rowland Jones Cup and each received a small trophy to keep to remind them of their success.

The Brian Hardwicke Cup was won by Fiona Millan of Neath SC with 36 points and she also took a small trophy home to keep.

Some of the Barry swimmers also won medals : Nadia Hamandi, Aaron Belby, Cian Ralphs, Nia Fuller, Thomas Pugh, Ruby Jones, Bethan Williams each had a Gold Medal, Bethan Williams also won a Silver Medal and Bronze Medals were won by Sophia Hamandi, Nadia Hamandi, Henry Davies, Bethan Williams, Cery Borges, Pia Sully and Carys Thomas.

New swimmers are welcome at the Club.

For further information, call Heulwen Cooper on 01446 733784.