BEAU SEJOUR Barracudas excelled in the annual postal swim staged by the British Long Distance Swimming Association. From an entry of 1,800 from throughout the UK as well as Australia, USA and Holland. Barracudas won four golds, seven silvers and four bronzes.

Swimmers compete in their ‘home pool’ aiming to swim as far as possible in one hour.

Gail Strobridge struck the only individual gold in the women’s open section completing 4,698m, just ahead of fellow Barracuda Casey Lee who took silver with 4,597m.

The two were then joined by Lauren Judge to take the women’s open team medal with a combined distance of 13,789m.

Judge, who competed in the 14/15 age group, also took the individual silver medal in that section, recording 4,494m.

Gold also went to the Barracudas in the men’s open section in which the team made up of Peter Druckes, Thomas Hollingsworth and John Dedman completed 13,943m, more than 700m ahead Westminster.

Hollingsworth and Dedman each took individual silver medals in the 14/15 years and 30/34 years respectively, while Druckes received a well earned bronze in the men’s open section with 4,692m.

Distance specialist James Dickinson placed second to Matthew Henry of Kelly College, swimming 4,635m and was then joined by brother Edward and Matthew Allen to take the bronze medal in the 14/15 years team event.

Bronze also went to the 14/15 years Barracudas girls’ team of Zoe Elliot, Louisa Jurkiewicz and Jenny Salmon.

A further masters’ silver went to Rebecca Simmons who held a storming pace to complete 4,310m, behind Manchester triathlon swimmer Karen Elly.

David Chamberlain also shone, winning individual bronze in the men’s 35/39 years’ category and a further team bronze with Ian Beattie and Nick Moss.