A TEAM of four swimmers has represented Guernsey in the Greater London Special Olympics Regional Championships at Enfield, Middlesex. The event was a short-course meet over 25 and 50 metres and attracted more than 300 swimmers with learning difficulties from the UK.

The Guernsey team comprised Simon Ozanne, Christine Brown, Melissa Kenny and Matthew Vile.

Brown was delighted to place second in the 50m freestyle in a time of 1-17.19 – seven seconds inside of her entered time.

In the 25m event she recorded 31.68, which was two seconds faster than the 15% margin allowed in the rules for Special Olympic swimming events.

Ozanne also swam out of his skin, finishing his 25m freestyle in 35.96 which again was far faster than his entered time and eight seconds inside the margin allowed to be in medal contention.

Vile continues to train hard and placed second in the 25m backstroke in a time of 45.78 and third in the 25m freestyle in 46.75.

Kenny came across some tough opposition and fared well gaining a creditable fourth place in the 25m backstroke in 29.96 and sixth in the 50m freestyle in 57.81.

The swimmers really rose to the occasion, emphasising the importance of competition outside of the island. A further regional championship is to be held in Reading in September, with the national championships being held in Edinburgh next year.