2007 Devon Development Galas
30th June - 8th July 2007

36 of Newton Abbot Swimming Club’s younger swimmers were out in force at this year’s County Development Galas, which took place over 2 weekends at Tiverton Leisure Centre.  Swimmers can enter a variety of events in different strokes and distances. 

Brogan Mace came 5th overall in the 9 year old girls’ category, securing 3 Personal Best times and a 5th place in the 200m Breaststroke.  In the same age group Anya Bishop secured 2 PBs which included a 5th place in the 200m Individual Medley.  Tom Cosford swam an excellent 30 second PB to finish 3rd in the 200m Breast.  Tom Normington finished top boy in the 9 years age group, his outstanding results including wins in the 200m IM, Fly, Back and Freestyle (all PBs).

Seven of Newton’s 10 year old girls swam in the Development Galas:  Jessica Knapman, Joanna Giles, Amy Tozer and Yelena Alton each secured at least one Personal Best time.  Emma Silk finished 6th overall of the 33 swimmers in this age group: she swam 6 Ps and her best result was a 2nd place in the 200m Fly: Sammy Basham finished 5th overall, with 4 PBs and a 3rd place in the 100m IM: less than 2 seconds separated these 2 girls in an exciting 200m Backstroke race, with Silk finishing 4th and Basham 5th. Charlotte Wright finished 2nd in the age group:   she won the 200m Backstroke with a 13 second PB and also the 100m IM: Wright also achieved 2 further 2nd places, both with good PBs. 

Guy Bennett recorded 3 good victories in the 10 year old boys’ age group, including a 45 second PB in the 200m Free: Bennett also tried his hand at a longer distance and came 3rd in the 400m Free (PB); he won the award for top boy in his age group for his efforts.  Jamie Bishop finished 6th overall, his best result being a 2nd place in the 200m Fly.  Peter Cock and Ben Gauntlett each recorded several PBs.

Six girls competed in the 11 years’ age group: Emmy Shaddick, Abbie Clarke and Esther Crompton each recorded at least one PB.  Lara Cosford came 2nd in the 200m Free with a 27 second PB; and also came 2nd in the 800m Freestyle: Cosford topped these results with a win in the 100m Free.  Nicole Wickens and Abbi Carne finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in this age group, both recording an excellent set of results and numerous PBs. Wickens’ best result was a 2nd place in the 200m Fly (32 second PB) and Carne continued to impress in the Backstroke, following her 2nd place and PB in the 200m race with a win and further PB in the 100m event.    Niall Grant and Sebastian Burleigh competed in the boys’ 11 years age group, each securing PBs; Grant came 9th in the age group.  George Fice finished 5th overall, with 3 PBs which included a 3rd place in the 200m Back. For the 12 year old boys, Bastion Harvey and Lewis Hailstone each swam PBs, Hailstone’s performance including a good 2nd place in the 200m IM.  Ryan Rogers’ consistent performance across a range of strokes and distances included 6 PBs and a 3rd place in the 200m IM, achieving 4th place overall in the age group.

Although affected by a recurring shoulder injury 13 year old Sophie Jenkins won the 100m Individual Medley (PB) and finished 3rd in the 200m event: despite having to pull out of several races she came 7th overall. Rachel Cooper, Sophie Irons and Angharad and Elin Morgan also competed in this age group; each recorded at least one PB; Irons finished 3rd in the 100m Breast.  Tom Carne, also 13, recorded 2 PBs and in the same age group there were top 10 places for Sam Fice (9th) and Edward Glanville (7th).  Both boys achieved a 2nd place, Glanville in the 100m Fly (PB) and Fice in the 200m Breast (PB).  14 year old Emma Garrett finished 2nd in the 100m Back and 100m and 200m Free (both PBs).