Guildford City Swimming Club sent a squad of 11 top swimmers to the British Gas International Swimming Meet held in Leeds from 7 to 10 March. The meet doubled as a trial for selection for the European Junior Championships as well as the European Youth Olympic Festival. It was also a showcase for many Olympians from all over the world to test their swimming year so far.

15 year old Emma Day had a superb competition winning the Junior 100m Butterfly & 200m Individual Medley titles & taking silver in the 200m Butterfly in a new pb of 2:16.16. These victories have given her a very strong chance of being selected to represent Great Britain in the European Junior Championships – a team to be announced in April.

GB Olympian Marco Loughran had a very strong Meet making finals in all of the Backstroke events and coming away with a bronze Medal in the 50m race. 15 Year old Chris Green raced head to head for a spot in the GB European Youth Olympic Team in the 200m Breaststroke. Chris dropped his entry time from 2:26.10 to 2:24.85 in the final where he was touched out into 2nd place.

Ellen Thomas, Henry Goodlud, Matthew Phillips, Catherine Coxeter – Smith, Katie Hodgson, Lucy Bean. Chloe Bean and Alicia Wilson all competed well gaining valuable experience at the highest level of GB swimming.

“Our lead up to this meet was more difficult than normal”, stated Chief Coach Richard Garfield. “Our younger swimmers who were attempting to make GB teams were tapered and prepared for fast swimming; however our older swimmers were using the Meet to gauge their condition and fitness: they competed untapered and unrested and we were very pleased with the results.”