By Ian Russell, Newquay Cormorants head coach

THE last two weekends of April saw five Cormorants swimmers competing in the Regional Age Group Long Course (50m) Championships held in Bristol on the first weekend and Millfield School on the second weekend. 

Will was the star for the Cormorants, taking home four medals. He won silver in the 50-metre backstroke as well as bronze in the 200 fly, 1,500m freestyle and 100m backstroke. Robyn was also impressive in winning silvers in the 50-metre and 200-metre backstroke events.
Will was the star for the Cormorants, taking home four medals. He won silver in the 50-metre backstroke as well as bronze in the 200 fly, 1,500m freestyle and 100m backstroke. Robyn was also impressive in winning silvers in the 50-metre and 200-metre backstroke events. (Newquay Cormorants Swimming Club)

The competition is for the best 11-14 year olds in Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall and as such qualification is only achieved through meeting tough qualifying times.

The South West region is the home of three of the strongest clubs in the UK and as such the quality of competition is really high.

On the left is Timmy who achieved a silver in the 50m freestyle at the Regional Youth Championships. On the right is Zeek who won bronze in the 800m freestyle.
On the left is Timmy who achieved a silver in the 50m freestyle at the Regional Youth Championships. On the right is Zeek who won bronze in the 800m freestyle. (Newquay Cormorants Swimming Club)

Despite this, all five of Newquay Cormorants swimmers qualified for finals (fastest eight swimmers in each event), a fantastic achievement. Three of the swimmers won medals with a total haul of three silver and four bronze.

The South West Regional Youth Championships were then held over three days on the bank holiday weekend at the start of May.

This competition is for swimmers aged 15 years and over and Cormorants had five swimmers who qualified for the competition.

Despite all of them suffering illness and the pressure and distraction of school exams in the weeks leading up to the event, they all performed really well with some great swims including making some finals and picking up a silver medal.

On the left: The boys - Samson, Zeek, Will and Freddy. The girls on the right from left are: Robyn, Hannah and Molly.
On the left: The boys - Samson, Zeek, Will and Freddy. The girls on the right from left are: Robyn, Hannah and Molly. (Newquay Cormorants Swimming Club)