The Academy Swim Team from Burnham-On-Sea was delighted to learn the club was selected to compete in the National Arena Swimming League for the 2014 Season.
The league is reserved for the top 400 clubs in the country and it takes place from October to December, over three rounds.
To be selected was a fantastic achievement, and was a culmination of the hard work and dedication of the team’s swimmers and coaches who have excelled in competitions throughout the county in their first year as a competitive swim team.
Competing in round one of the Western League, Division 2, the team travelled to the Newport International Swimming Pool.
Expecting fierce competition from some very large established teams and towns, the club excelled by gaining seven first place finishes, seven second place finishes and seven third place finishes.
The tean’s first place winners were Connie Hazelton-Cavil (2); Owen Mercer (2); Shannon Hooper; Ellen Lupton & The Academy’s Swim Coach Tracey Kidner, who won the Ladies open 100 m Backstroke.
Thanks went to the team’s officials, Jenny Parfitt and Fiona Mercer, who without their qualifications the team would not have been able to compete.
The Academy now looks forward to further rounds and putting the town of Burnham-On-Sea on the swimming map.
Meanwhile, the Academy Swim Team also sent 16 swimmers to Millfield to compete in the Somerset County Development Meet earlier this month.
There were 21 clubs represented, with over 2800 swims taking place during the weekend.
The Academy Swim Team came away with 9 Gold Medals, 3 Silvers and 4 Bronze Medals and 58 Personal Best Swims, which was a phenomenal achievement.
The team’s medallists were Anya Snowball; Connie Hazelton-Cavil; Harriet Puddy; Shannon Hooper; Sam Vagg; Storm Munday and Callum Richards.
The Academy Swim Team currently has five squads training at the Burnham-On-Sea Swim and Sports Academy and welcomes new swimmers to come and try out.
Swimmers who are not quite at the level of competitive swimming can enrol in the UK ASA Swim School of the year where they receive the best instruction in the country (as confirmed by the ASA) and in no time you will be making the team. To schedule a trial, or join the Swim Academy/Team, or for further information, contact the Academy on 01278 785909.
