Swimming

SEVENOAKS, who entered a red and black team, enjoyed an excellent Sparrow Gala. Other competing teams were Canterbury and White Oak.

Sevenoaks Red achieved first places in the first six events, followed by a good personal-best time for Georgina Powell in the 100m breaststroke (under 15) and a first place,

Eleven-year-old Andrew Jessop, swam in the 100m breaststroke (under 15) with an six-second pb, and first place came for Michael Davidson in the butterfly (under 13), with a five-second pb.

Olivia Wyatt also gained an excellent pb in the 100m butterfly (under 13)

In the boys' 50m butterfly (under 11), young Cameron Hill amazed all with a perfect swim for the Black team in 41.21sec, knocking 5sec off his previous pb.

New pbs were gained in first-time 100m events by Kai Salih (under 13, butterfly and freestyle), Sophie Alcock (under 13, backstroke) and Tom Coveney (under 13, backstroke).

The under-11 age group showed their talent with excellent pbs for Charlotte Hoo (Red) in the 100m individual medley and first place, and Pollyanna Rimell (Black) with a second place in the 100m IM

In the same event (boys), Cameron Hill also gained second place and pb in this, his first event.

Eleven-year-old Hamish Johnstone swam to first place (under 11) in a close-fought 100m freestyle for the Red team with a five-second pb, beating his nearest opponent by just over a second.

The relay teams were in top form with Red gaining first places in the freestyle and medley events (under 11, under 13, open).

The Antwis Trophy Timed Gala took place at Sevenoaks. Despite collecting several time-faults along the way, the Sevenoaks swimmers produced some excellent performances, especially from the younger age group.

Beth Hook (under 10) came third in the butterfly and Abi Johnstone fourth in the freestyle.

In the breaststroke, Vita Milana was time-faulted, though with a much-improved stroke, and Poppy Holmes was time-faulted in the backstroke as she knocked off 5sec from her previous pb.

Another great, but time-faulted, swim came from William Vickery (under 10), who has shown his talent for backstroke. There were also second places for James Marsh (breaststroke) and Oliver Norris (freestyle).

Excellent swims (under 12) came from Pollyanna Rimell in the breaststroke with a first place, while a last-minute entry for Pollyanna in the butterfly, because of illness, secured her another first place. Emily Hall was second in the freestyle in her first gala and there was a third for Holly Gordon, who was also in her first gala for Sevenoaks.

Second places (under 12) came for Alex Chew in the breaststroke and Peter Price in the freestyle, while Thomas Coote swam to third in the backstroke. Felix Avery had a good, but time-faulted, swim in the butterfly.

In the 14-and-under group, the girls were on top form, but just too good with three time faults between them and a second for Molly Payne in the breaststroke.

The boys in the group were just as strong, but with three time faults and a third for David Wilson in the breaststroke. The boys were swimming above their age group, so their performance was exceptional.

In 16 and under, the girls had stiff competition, but good results came for Alex Chrysostomou, first in the freestyle, and Katie Lobley, second in the butterfly.

Sophie Simpson, backstroke, and Jess Guy, breaststroke, took fifth places. Eleven-year-old Hamish Johnstone swam in the 16-and-under breaststroke, gaining a respectable fifth place, and similarly, with fourth in the butterfly.

Kai Salih was fourth in the freestyle, and Sam Hayes, fifth in the backstroke.

There were no time limits on the relays, and all swimmers achieved an exceptionally high standard. Two under-10s had to swim up into the under-12 freestyle and medley relays, because of illness. Poppy Holmes swam the freestyle and Vita Milana swam the final freestyle leg of the medley relay, doing most of the 25m without breathing.

Sevenoaks relay results: under 10: freestyle: boys, first, girls fourth; medley: boys, first, girls, first; under 12: freestyle: boys, third, girls, fifth; medley: boys, third, girls, fourth; under 14: freestyle: boys, third, girls, second; medley: boys, fifth, girls, second; under 16: freestyle: boys, fifth, girls, second; medley: boys, fourth, girls, first. Squadrons: butterfly: third; breaststroke: second; freestyle: first place (Frankie Batchelor led the squadron).

Despite their time faults, which all the clubs accrued, Sevenoaks finished a very good second to Beacon SC by eight points.