After a fantastic weekend at Crystal Palace where the sprint events were held Chief Coach Richard Garfield enthused:

“I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of Guildford City Swimmers who made the finals of the Surrey Championships 50m sprint events at Crystal Palace on Saturday 23 March. Just before they all went up for their swims we had a team cheer and there were just so many swimmers. It was inspiring!”

2013 has already proven to be record breaking year with the relays still to come. City has broken its own County records so far amassing an astonishing 2612.5 age group points (compared to last year’s 2226 for all events). In the medals race Guildford have 287 so far which includes 128 gold, compared to a total of 235 in 2012 including 96 gold.

With one day to go City has already won all of the Team Championships including the coveted Tinlin Trophy for 16 years & under – this for a record tying 10th straight year currently held by Leatherhead Swimming Club who were perennial champions between the years 1992 to 2001. “One of our goals has always been to break that record – so 2014 will be an important Surrey Champs for us, when we will push to be on top for 11 straight years and establish the longest winning streak in Surrey history. “

Coach Garfield laughed “We never lose sight of where we were in 1998 when Steve Wadey & I took over the coaching reigns of the Club. In that year we came 10th in the League table with a total of 16 medals which included 4 gold. We mustered the grand total of 107 swims. How things have changed!”