Stowmarket SC was well represented at this years East region Championships held over 3 weekends in May and June. A total of 15 members swam in 22 events and had some considerable success in a very competitive competition. In the older age groups Hollie Johnston in her first regionals achieved 21 st place in girls 16+ 50m freestyle achieving a personal best time (pb) of 30.91. Kimberley Hough swam the same event in 29.90 coming 14 th . Kimberley also swam the 50m butterfly coming 13 th in 33.41. In the 50m freestyle heats for the 17+ age group Joe Hardwick gained 35 th place in 27.57, Edmund Crosthwaite 24 th in 26.83, Adam Duszynski 7 th in 25.90 and Shaun Harrison 5 th in 25.78. Shaun went on to the final winning in 25.30 to become East Region Champion. Further success was achieved by David Harrison who became 50m breaststroke East Region Champion in 31.58, Shaun got 3 rd place in 32.53. James King in the 15/16 age group for 50m breaststroke reached the final coming 8 th in 34.86. James King came 20 th in the 15/16 100m freestyle in 59.62. In the 17+ age group for the same event both Shaun Harrison and Adam Duszynski reached the final coming 3 rd (55.67) and 4 th (56.09) respectively. James Christopher competed in the 100fly coming in 14 th in 1.07.64.

Regarding the younger age groups again there was considerable success. Of the 6 younger swimmers 3 were competing for the first time at this level and all achieved personal best times (pb) as well as getting great experience of this level of competition. 13 year old Jacob Randal Honeyball came 24 th in the 100m freestyle in 1.04.16, 11 year old Mollie Drew came 30 th in the 100m backstroke in 1.27.91, in the same event 11 year old Rebecca Dormer came 29 th in 1.26.08, and Rebecca also came 32 nd in 100m freestyle in 1.16.16.

12 year old Ella Delves in her second championships competed in the 200m freestyle coming 39 th in 2.32.82 (pb) and in the 100m breaststroke coming 14 th in 1.33.12 (pb).

14-year-old Will Blackaby competed in 8 events reaching the final in five. In the 200m freestyle came 20 th in 2.15.11 (pb), 200m individual medley 7 th in age group in 2.30.49 (pb), 4 th in final in 2.30.41 (pb), 100m backstroke 9 th in age group 1.11.30 (pb), 5 th in final 1.10.28, 100m freestyle 22 nd in 1.02.25(pb), 200m backstroke 6 th in 2.29.08 (pb), 6 th in final in 2.32.29, 100m butterfly 2 nd in age group in 1.06.30 (pb), 4 th in final in 1.16.85, 400m individual medley 10 th in 5.23.38 (pb), 200m butterfly 3 rd in 2.32.21 (pb). Overall Will achieved 10 th place (out of 47) in the 14-year age group.

13-year-old Aaron Lynch had by far the most successful championships competing in 5 events and reaching the final in all of them, winning 3, coming second in one and third in the other. In the 200m freestyle came 2 nd in age group in 2.08.70, 2 nd in final in 2.09.77, 200m individual medley 2 nd in age group in 2.29.17, 3 rd in final in 2.29.64, 100m free 1 st in age group in 58.34, 1 st in final in 58.84, 200m breaststroke 2 nd in age group in 2.51.82, 1 st in final in 2.48.41, 100m breaststroke 1 st in 1.16.83(pb), 1 st in final in 1.16.50. Overall Aaron came second place (out of 52) in the 13-year age group.

Coach Shaun Harrison said that all swimmers have worked very hard and this was reflected in their success. Aaron, Adam and David go on to compete in the National Championships in July/August at Ponds Forge Sheffield. Stowmarket Swimming Club always welcomes new young swimmers – see w eb site: www.stowmarketswimmingclub.co.uk.

On Friday club night Stowmarket Swimming Club's Chairman, Trevor Connick, presented Bobbie Wilson with a picture to mark her 60 th year with Stowmarket swimming Club. Bobbie joined the club in 1947 and learnt to swim in the old out door pool situated off Ipswich Road Stowmarket. In those days the pool opened each season from May to September and was unheated. In 1986 Bobbie moved with the club to the new Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre.

Bobbie is a qualified swimming teacher and teaches at the centre, she is also qualified to take courses and examine prospective swimming teachers. Bobbie was also the first ASA Nationally qualified referee in Suffolk a great honour, and is also qualified to examine new officials.

Bobbie is currently the club president a position she has also held at County Level in Suffolk and is well regarded at all levels in the sport for her knowledge and commitment to swimming.

Bobbie has been teaching adults and children with disabilities or 30 years. This has also included teaching swimming in special needs schools. Bobbie has been a great campaigner in raising funds for special needs facilities.

Bobbie continues to compete in Masters Galas and most recently competed for Suffolk in the Regional Inter-county gala at Peterborough in November, swimming in the 65-74yeras class achieving a 3 rd place in 50m breaststroke in a time of 1.13.85, 3 rd in 50m fly in 1.18.55 and 4 th place in 50m front crawl in 58.18.