Seagull make a splash at regionals

Megan Alsop was the most successful of the Seagull squad, finishing in the top 10 in all of her six events.

Swimming in the girls’ 17 and over age group, Alsop came fourth in the 200m IM, and sixth in the 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly and 400m IM.

She also qualified to swim in both the 200m butterfly and 50m backstroke where she came fifth and ninth respectively.

Jodie Shoesmith also qualified for six events in the girls’ age 15/16 category with four top 20 finishes. Her best finish was 11th, which she achieved in both the 50m breaststroke and 400m IM.

Megan Hawkesley, 14, was the youngest of the Seagull squad. Swimming in her first South East Youth Championships, she came a very creditable eighth in the age 14 girls’ 50m breaststroke with a new PB of 36.83s.

Seagull had four swimmers in the boys’ section, all of whom were competing in the age 15/16 category.

Andy Paige qualified for an impressive seven events, including the gruelling 1,500m freestyle, in which he finished a very creditable 12th with a time of 18.23.04s.

Dan Williams qualified for five events, his highest finish being 18th in the 100m backstroke. Ben Horner and Henri Choron qualified for one event each, and both clocked new PBs in their respective events.

The region covers nine counties, and all events are for swimmers aged 14 and over.