THE St Austell Sharks swimming club have performed fantastically at this year’s Cornwall County ASA Championships, held across Penzance and Bodmin over the past four weekends.
The club's swimmers showcased their prowess in the pool, setting the stage for thrilling competitions and memorable performances.
The championships kicked off on Saturday, January 18, with the 800m freestyle event, where St Austell's Gwithyen Brown and Matilda Quinn delivered excellent performances. Gwithyen secured a second place finish to earn a silver medal, while Matilda continued her progress following a disrupted swim season due to a knee injury.
A spokesperson said: “Their achievements set a promising tone for the club's participation in the prestigious county competition.”
Over the next few weekends, Sharks swimmers achieved personal bests in a range of different events, many reaching county finals, with some collecting top three finishes — including a few county champions in their chosen events and age categories.
The spokesperson said: “Huge congratulations to Gwithyen, Rowan Oldfield and Lucie Trudgeon, who managed to win their finals and become county champions in the 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 50m backstroke respectively.”
In total, Sharks had 18 swimmers participating in this year’s county championships swimming across the various events: Bella, Astrid, Evie, Sam C, Beth D, Bethany D, Charlotte, Ruby, Lily, Aoife, Abi, Henry, Sam S, Ellie, Matilda, Gwithyen, Rowan and Lucie.
The club’s final medal count was three gold, seven silver and eight bronze:
Gold — Gwithyen, 400m freestyle; Rowan, 200m backstroke; Lucie, 50m backstroke.
Silver — Abi, 400m freestyle; Gwithyen, 100m freestyle and 800m freestyle; Rowan, 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke and 50m backstroke; Lucie, 100m backstroke.
Bronze — Abi, 200m freestyle; Lily, 200m butterfly; Lucie, 100m individual medley and 50m butterfly; Gwithyen, 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke; Rowan, 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly.
In addition, medals were earned by the top six junior (under 16) swimmers in the county.
The spokesperson said: “There were so many finalists personal bests and stunning performances from all Sharks. In addition, the club also had five members who achieved regional times in their events and hope to go on to the South West Regional Championships in April/May. Well done to Gwithyen, Rowan, Sam C, Henry and Lucie for this achievement.”
Head coach, Joseph Schenk said of the performances: "I’m so proud of everyone. Swimming at Counties itself is an excellent achievement. It’s a testament to everyone’s hard work and is really positive as we head through the rest of 2025 and beyond.”
Club captains Sam S and Skye added: “We are extremely proud of all of our swimmers. They all showed so much passion and determination at this year’s Counties and achieved amazing results.”
St Austell Swimming Club's participation in the Cornwall County ASA Championships only highlights their competitive spirit but also their commitment to fostering a vibrant swimming culture in Cornwall.
With their sights set on upcoming galas over the next few months, St Austell Swimming Club looks ahead to future competitions with optimism and determination.
For more details visit the website www.staustellswimming.co.uk/club-sponsorship