A TEAM of young swimmers from Westonbirt Prep School have smashed their way to a new national swimming record.
The eight-strong boys’ team, from years 5 and 6, broke the three-year-old record in the smalls schools category at the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) National Swimming Championships at Crawley.
More than 5,000 children across the UK had competed in 40 qualifying rounds, with the Westonbirt eight recording a time of 2.26.15 in the 200m freestyle relay. In the finals at the K2 Crawley Leisure Centre, the boys knocked nearly 10 seconds off that time to finish in 2.16.55 and set a new championship record.
The team were: Oliver Wilcox, 11, from Wickwar; Charlie Hosking, 11, from Lea; Gabriel Scudder, 10, from Lower Kilcott; Gabriel Evans, 10, from Malmesbury; Luc Dangerfield, 9, from Westonbirt; Sam Stevens, 11, from Malmesbury; Elliott Cook, 11, from Startley; and Tom Barr, 10, from Rodmarton.
Swimming teacher Mary Worsford said: “The boys don’t realise what an incredible thing they did. Not only to win but also to set a new record is a fantastic achievement.”
The girls’ team came fourth in the finals with a time of 2.25.11. They were: Madeleine Winston-Davis, 11, from Westonbirt; Louisa Neal, 11, from Long Newton; Lucy Lord, 10, from Tetbury; Jemima Price, 11, from Westonbirt; Charlie Hollywood, nine, from Didmarton; Carys Johnson, 10, from Westonbirt; Charlotte Mandefield, 10, from Uley; and Niamh Hayes, 10, from Sherston.
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