BOSS had plenty of other success at the Regional Championships.

Katarina Blanco swam in the girls’ 12 years age group and qualified for six finals, setting personal bests throughout her programme. Her finest success came in the 1,500m freestyle where she dominated her age group from the start, winning gold some 12 seconds ahead of her nearest rival. Blanco swam strongly again in both the 400 and 800 FS, securing silver medals in both, and picked up bronze in the 100 BF. Blanco also now turns her focus to nationals.

Also swimming in the girls’ 12 years age group was Kayleigh Sims. Reaping the rewards of her hard training, Sims set an excellent PB on her way to winning the bronze medal in the 200 breaststroke, which was a fraction outside this year’s national qualifying mark. Sims also made the 100 breaststoke final and put in a good performance in the 400 IM.

Swimming in the boys’ 14 years age group, Harry Payne had some fine swims despite being in the middle of a heavy pre-nationals training programme. In the 1,500 free he smashed the existing regional championship record to win gold, leading from the front throughout. Payne then went on to deliver a hat- trick of silver medals in the 100, 400 and 800 free, as well as picking up fourth and sixth places in the 200m and 400 IMs.

Ellie Townley swam in the girls’ 13 years age group and had some great results across multi-stoke and distances. Recording a PB in a very competitive 1500 and 800, Townley picked up fourth place and fifth place respectively. She then made the finals of the 200 BF and 400 FS as well, finishing sixth and seventh. Swimming in her first regional championships proper, Abigail Reynolds put in some fine performances in the girls’ 11 years age group, making two finals. Reynolds secured fifth places in the 800 free and the 200 fly after only recently regaining fitness following serious injury.

Charlie Metcalf and Hugo Johnson were also competing for the first time at regional level and continued the BOSS success story.

Metcalf made his first finals after PBs in the heats of the 100 and 200 free, going on to finish fourth and eighth. Johnson swam well in his free and backstroke events, making his first final and finishing in seventh in the 100 free.

Other BOSS swimmers who put in good performances were Charlotte Hartin, who narrowly missed the 200 backstroke final, Maddison Townley (200m IM, 100 free), Katie Collins (200m free) and Samuel Woolf (100m/200m /400m free and 200m backstroke).