Seven members of the London Disability Swimming squad represented the region at the Welsh Long Course championships at the end of December, winning seven golds. Matthew Wyman from Waltham Forest, was the most successful London swimmer winning four events in S15 – the 100m and 400m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 200m IM. He also finished second in the 200m backstroke and 200m freestyle events.

 

Craig Moate, swimming for London Borough of Redbridge SC, took gold in the 200m butterfly in the S14 class and silver in 400m freestyle, while Sarah Paschoud of Sharks won the women’s 100m breaststroke in the same class, and finished fifth over the same distance in backstroke.

 

Susie Rogers (Otter Masters) took gold in 50m butterfly in S7 and silver in 50m freestyle. Amy Marren (Havering Aquatics) finished the gala with two silver medals, in 50m freestyle and 200m backstroke, and bronzes in 200m and 400m freestyle, as well as100m backstroke.

 

Jessica Harper (Chelsea & Kensington) finished third in 100m freestyle in S9 and fifth in the 200m IM and 50m. In the same class Leonie Buck (GBM) finished fifth in 100m backstroke.

 

Amy, Sarah and Jessica also competed at the Eastern region disability championships earlier in the month, along with Alex Bailey of Sharks. Jessica came first in two of the multi-discipline events – 50m and 100m butterfly – as did Alex in the men’s 50m and 100m butterfly. 

 

Amy finished first in 100m backstroke, second in 50m event and third in 100m IM and freestyle events. Sarah’s highest finish was second in 100m breaststroke and she finished third in the 50m event. The four swimmers joined forces to compete in a mixed 200m freestyle race and finished second.

 

Amy finished top swimmer in the girls 11-12 years age group while Alex was top male swimmer in 17+ age group.