Record-breaking county championships for Sutton swimmers

Some of the triumphant Sutton Swimming Club squad that won a hatful of medals at the county championships.

Not only did the club have a record number of 55 swimmers who qualified for the individual events at the chanmpionships, which were held over three weekends at the Harvey Hadden complex in Bilborough, Nottingham. They also ended up with a record number of successes and medals.

Top of the pile was Russ Golubs, who was crowned Sutton’s one outright overall individual champion after racing to victory in the male 100m butterfly event. The club also won four silver medals and four bronze medals in the overall individual events.

In the junior females’ category, Sutton boasted two outright multiple winners, with Chloe Quinn champion in the 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle and 200m butterfly events, and Hollie-Mae Dove champion in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events. These golds were supplemented by five superb silvers and one bronze medal.

In addition to these overall county and junior county triumphs, Sutton racked up an astonishing number of medals in the individual age groups. The tally read: 29 golds, 18 silvers and 23 bronzes.

After the three weekends of competition, the top three swimmers in each individual age group were decided by adding points accumulated across a range of five separate swims. Plaques were awarded to the best three in each age group, and Sutton’s Matthew Woodhall was number one in the 13-year-old boys’ section. The club also landed two second places and two third places when all the points had been totted up.

Sutton’s success was not confined to individual races. For they also enjoyed record-breaking performances in the team events.

In the female relays, the club won three team trophies, namely the 12-and-under freestyle, the 14-and-under freestyle and the 17-and-over freestyle. The girls’ teams also took two silver medals and one bronze.

In the male relay events, Sutton landed four bronze medals, while in the mixed relays, four silvers and three bronzes came winging their way.

Such a summary of the medals and trophies does not paint the full picture of Sutton’s achievements, however. For their swimmers also reached lots of individual finals, secured numerous new personal-best times and achieved many top-ten finishes, both in individual events and overall competitions.

It can be safely said that the 2017 season has been kicked off in style and Sutton now turn their attentions to the Midland Championships and the qualifying period for the British and Home Nations Summer Championships.

Delighted club chairman Andy Quinn has expressed his admiration for all the swimmers who took part at Harvey Hadden, and is now looking forward to even more success to celebrate as the year progresses.