On Saturday 7th October, the Swindon Dolphin Para Squad with their mascot Splasher travelled to Horfield to take part in the Swift Inclusive Gala. Teams attended from across the South West including Birmingham Lightening Bolts, Bristol North, Bristol Sharks, City of Bristol and Plymouth. The gala sponsored by Swift Inclusive Sports and the Rotary Clubs of Bristol, is in its 21st year of hosting a swimming gala for swimmers with a disability.
The evening consisted of races in each stroke across 25m and 50m distances, and ended with team relays. Swindon Dolphin had the second biggest team there after City of Bristol and despite the friendly atmosphere of the gala, the competition in the pool was fierce. In the first race, 25m Freestyle, Dolphins picked up the first of many medals with identical twins Anna and Lauren taking 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Ella followed next with gold in her 25m Freestyle race. The boys 25m Freestyle event saw Callum pick up a bronze and Matthew a gold. In the 25m Backstroke, Isabelle came 2nd in her event and Liam came 1st in his. The boys 50m Freestyle saw the closest finish of the evening with Andrew taking the bronze.
One of the most exciting events of the evening was the boys 25m Breaststroke which saw Giacomo swim hard to take bronze in a very close finish. The girls 25m Breaststroke also had an exciting finish with Courtney putting in a great swim only to be beaten to fourth place by tenths of a second.
The final event of the evening saw the boys win bronze in the 100m Freestyle relay.
Swindon Dolphin’s final medal tally for the evening was a fantastic 8 golds, 6 silver and 9 bronze and was rounded off with Andrew taking home the trophies for Junior King of the Pool.
The gala was a great experience for all the swimmers, some of whom were swimming in a competitive gala for the first time.
Splasher
Final Medal tally for the Swindon Dolphin Para Squad:
Matthew – Gold 25m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle, Silver 25m Breaststroke and Bronze Freestyle Relay.
Andrew – Gold 50m Breaststroke and 25m Butterfly, Silver 50m Backstroke, Bronze 50m Freestyle and Bronze Freestyle Relay.
Ella – Gold 25m Freestyle, Silver 25m Breaststroke and 25m Backstroke.
Isabelle – Gold 25m Breaststroke, Silver 25m Backstroke.
Liam – Gold 25m Backstroke, Bronze Freestyle Relay.
Anna – Silver 25m Freestyle.
Callum – Bronze 25m Freestyle and 25m Backstroke.
Giacomo – Bronze 25m Breaststroke, Bronze Freestyle Relay.
Lauren – Bronze 25m Freestyle.
