RUGBY Swimming Club’s artistic swimmers impressed at the National Age Groups Championships held at Gloucester’s GL1 pool.
The Championships took place over two days with Rugby up against the best teams from across the United Kingdom in one of the standout events on the artistic swimming calendar.
Rugby’s Lola Huett won bronze for her figures in the 12 and under category whilst Tyra Watson placed an impressive 11th out of 125 competition in the 13 to 15 years category.
And Huett then won gold alongside Frankie Klym with a confident duet as the pair blew the competition away with a combined score of 114.7854 as their routine score of 58.5333 saw them finish four points ahead of London who claimed silver.
There was also a sixth-placed finish for Chloe Bartholomew and Watson who swam a well-executed duet in the youth category competing against several GB swimmers.
Huett enjoyed further success on day two to win silver for her solo routine which was the highest score in the 12 and under category before Keva Ennis and Aaron Lee successfully defended their title with a new routine to take gold some 13 points ahead of their rivals.
Later in the day, Rugby’s 12 and under free team won silver as the group were rewarded for many months of hard work and dedication to finish just behind gold medallists London Region.
The team comprised of Lee, Amelie Jeary, Darcey Townsend, Klym, Ennis, Lois Banadaki and Huett whilst Lucy Gates and Amy Tetlow made a great contribution with their figures.
Rugby’s 13 to 15 years team were pipped to bronze as they delivered an outstanding performance to finish fourth out of 12 of the best youth teams in the country.
The team comprised of Alexa Holland, Eve Nelson, Sophie Henry, Chloe Barret-Leafe, Olivia Barry, Bartholomew, Imogen Ravenhall and Watson whilst Saranne Black, Kitty Tyers and Emilia Owen competed in figures and supported the team.
Huett was named Swimmer of the Meet for the under-12’s as she showed great resilience and a strong mindset to deal with the pressure and high expectations that come with a national competition.
And Barret-Leafe was named Swimmer of the Meet for the 13 to 15 years category as her hard work and commitment paid off in her figures whilst she also was a strong team player.
Anyone interested in trying artistic swimming should contact Rugby’s head coach Hannah Secher at: [email protected] or visit the website at: rugbysynchro.co.uk
