By Ashley Tomkins.

YEOVIL & District Swimming Club (YDSC) held their annual Christmas meet – which is always filled with fun, excitement and exhilarating swimming – at Millfield Swimming Pool in Street.

It is also the last chance for many swimmers to try and achieve county times for the championship that kicks off in late January.
Twenty-eight swimming clubs from around the area joined YDSC, showing what an important meet it has become.
The venue was full to the rafters with swimmers and spectators, and YDSC had a fantastic turn-out with 57 swimmers racing over the weekend, over half of the club’s membership of about 100 swimmers.

A big shout out must go to Chloe Bartlett, 11, Soccoro Bowen, 13, Kai Rumbelow, ten, and Ellie Tomsett, ten, for whom this event was their first swim meet. They swam amazingly well and all achieved personal bests.
The weekend saw super performances and standouts for the girls were Harriet Scott, nine, with two golds, three silvers and one bronze medal, and Liy Nutland, 11, with three golds and one bronze.

For the boys, Jackson Green, 12, came home with three silvers and one bronze, and Rowan Hooper, 14, with one gold and two bronze.
In addition, Rebecca Tomkins, 13, had superb swims in the 50m and 100m breaststroke with times of 37.85 and 1.25.96, not only achieving county times for these events but regional times as well.
Not to be overshadowed, Theo Perrin, 13, and Oliver Frost, 14, cemented their places in next year’s regionals with Theo in the 50m backstroke achieving a great time of 33.76 seconds, and Oliver in the 50 freestyle a stunning swim of 27.36 seconds.
The club would like to thank all the swimmers who attended for the way they conducted themselves over the weekend, and all the spectators who helped create a special atmosphere.

Head coach Ian Angell said: “Without the support of all the parents, committee members, coaches and officials, meets like this wouldn’t be possible.
“At YDSC we are lucky to have a fantastic number of people all willing to help, making sure the weekend was a massive success. Swimmers at all levels had the opportunity to gain those last-minute Somerset qualifying times or be rewarded for all the hard work they have put into training over the past three months by gaining a personal best. A massive well done to everyone!”
YDSC now move onto the Somerset County Championships held over four weekends in January and February. YDSC have 33 swimmers that achieved the qualifying times in attendance at this championship.