This Is Guernsey

The Parfits, Victoria, Harry and Lotte, all took overall first place in their respective age group. (0540449)

AMAZINGLY 11 gala records were smashed when the two local clubs competed in the annual 50m sprint gala staged by the Guernsey Amateur Swimming Association.

Records belonging to some big names were taken – 11-year-old Beau Sejour Barracuda Miles Munro took Ian Powell’s freestyle age-group record in 30.02 and then went on to take Ben Lowndes’s butterfly standard by touching in 33.55, slicing over 1.5 seconds off the mark.Munro then went on to win the overall age group prize with a maximum 24 points.

Kristina Neves of the Guernsey Swimming Club, also competing in the 11-year group, took two of Gail Strobridge’s records in the butterfly and backstroke, clocking 32.38 and 34.24 respectively. She also succeeded in sweeping the board in winning all four events at her age. Three backstroke records went to the Parfit family with 10-year-old Harry, Lotte (12) and 14-year-old Victoria all producing some technically pleasing backstroke, clocking 38.27, 33.96 and 33.16 respectively.

All three Parfits went on to take first place in their respective age groups – Harry having to share the honours with the GSC’s Alexander Batiste – both boys scoring 21 points.

In the 13-year group a very determined Joe Ogier took the record previously held by Thomas Hollingsworth in the butterfly, touching in 31.01, just ahead of second placed David Hall.

Hall then went on to take the touch from Ogier in the 50m freestyle event where he set a record of 28.21.

As well as winning the overall title in the 12-year-olds’ category, Luke Winberg put in a record-breaking performance in the butterfly, where a well-timed finish gave him first place in 32.76.

In the same age group, teammate Nicole Hewlett won the breaststroke in a new record time of 38.07.

Swimmers scored points in each of their swims, with the highest totals overall gaining awards in each age group – Ben Lowndes producing maximum points in the senior age group.

Also scoring the maximum by winning all four of his events was nine-year-old Louis Falla of the GSC, with Courtney Butcher of the Barracudas winning the age group for the girls. Butcher’s sister, Cody, was the champion in the 13-year group.

Other age group winners were Chloe Tostevin (10 years), with 20 points and Alexander Robert (14), also on 20.

Fifteen-year-olds Leo Chamber-lain and Matt Butt shared the boys’ title, with Heather Chapman securing the girls’ award with 22 points.

Alison Cann won the senior age group.

Awards were presented by Mike Webber of the Guernsey Common-wealth Games Association Validation Committee.