King’s Swimmers Excel at National and Local Competitions

On Friday 1st March, eight King’s swimmers travelled to the London Aquatics Centre for the Bath and Otter Cup relays. This was the first year that the School had been invited to this prestigious event, which always attracts more than 80 schools from around the country. The event consists of a Medley and Freestyle Relay for both girls and boys. The girls swam 50m for each leg in both relays and the boys swam 100m in the Freestyle and 50m in the Medley.  This competition is run as an open age group, meaning swimmers of any age under 18 can take part.   

The standard was incredibly high, and getting into the final was going to be tough. The girls’ team of Frankie B, Grace E, Grace R and Catherine H had a stressful start to the day with their minibus stuck behind an accident on the motorway. Running very late, we managed to secure a later heat in the Freestyle Relay; however, the girls were unable to warm up or even have time to change into their competition racesuits. They showed great professionalism and gave it all they had in their training costumes, gaining a credible 14th place. After lunch, being better prepared and in the right suits, they smashed their heat and the final to place fifth overall. This really was superb swimming! 

The boys swam brilliantly in both of their relays, reaching the final in both events. The team of Ben G, Harry C, Aled L and Dylan L all performed incredibly well, placing seventh in the Medley and eighth in the Freestyle. This was an amazing achievement for the boys, considering Dylan is only 14 years old, Harry 15, and Ben and Aled 16, as they were racing against many 18 year olds. 

Lizzie Monkhouse, Head of Senior School Swimming Competitions, comments,  

“This was a great event, to which we very much hope to be invited next year. The swimmers were a delight poolside, and I was very proud to spend the day with them. I look forward to next year, when I hope we can build on this success.” 

A team of 24 swimmers from Year 6 to Year 10 travelled closer to home to Perdiswell Leisure Centre to swim in the annual School Games swimming event. With seven swimmers eligible to swim in the Bath and Otter Relays competition at the London Aquatics Centre, it was a great opportunity for others, and meant several swimmers competed up an age group.  

The event sees all members of the team swimming an individual event as well as both the Medley and Freestyle Relay, with a final Canon Relay for one swimmer from each age group team.  

It was a super gala, with all swimmers giving their best for the team. King’s finished the event in third place, which is an amazing achievement, particularly bearing in mind that so many swimmers were away with other galas or suffering from illness and injury. Well done to everyone involved.