Plymouth College will once again defend their position as England’s leading swimming school later this year having emerged from the recent English Schools’ Swimming Association Regional Relay Championships victorious in seven of the twelve events. The region consists of schools coming together from Devon, Dorset, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Avon and Somerset.
A venture to Crystal Palace in November will see them challenge for the coveted English Schools’ titles, twelve of which are available, an event which has seen them win an average of eight of these prizes each year in recent times. The regional qualifying meet at Millfield School in Street saw the College feature more than 100 students competing at the event – just under a fifth of the population of the school.
In the senior male relays, Oliver Goodhew, Harry Ackland, Joe Hulme and Jack Smith were to win the medley relay, with the College’s ‘B’ team finishing second. In the freestyle relay, Joseph Hellier was to join the team to ensure a further victory. Phoebe Lenderyou, Ruta Meilutyte, Grace Vertigans and Julie Meynen were to ensure another top spot in the senior girls medley relay, with Plymouth College’s ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ teams finishing 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively, all ahead of the Millfield ‘A’ team in 6th. With Eva Gliozeryte joining the fray, the senior girls freestyle relay title was also secured – Plymouth College also took 2nd and 3rd in this event with their ‘B’ and ‘C’ teams.
In the intermediate age group, Tom Fannon, George Epsly, Myles Pillage and Edward Lee were to secure a further victory in the freestyle relay, the same quartet also winning the medley relay title later in the day. The College’s seventh title was to come courtesy of the junior girls medley relay, with Tegan Drew, Jeanri Buys, Jessica Manning and Lauren Hession ensuring the win. The remaining titles were shared by Kelly College (3) and Millfield (2).
All twelve of the Plymouth College relay teams will feature in the ESSA National Relays Finals at Crystal Palace on Saturday 23rd November. Plymouth College’s Director of Swimming Jon Rudd said, “This is a great event for us, and shows the massive value that Plymouth College place on their swimming programme when you set off up the A38 with 20% of the school’s population in tow to race at this event. We take great pride in our ESSA results and look forward to an exciting National Final later this year”.
Further information on Plymouth College and their International swimming programme can be found via www.plymouthcollege.com