SWIMMING: Suffolk's hectic swimming schedule continued this weekend with a huge turnout for the 17th Junior Open Designated Meet.Hosted by Ipswich Swimming Club at Crown Pools, the event pulled in some 27 clubs from across the region.

By Debbie Watson

SWIMMING

SUFFOLK'S hectic swimming schedule continued this weekend with a huge turnout for the 17th Junior Open Designated Meet.

Hosted by Ipswich Swimming Club at Crown Pools, the event pulled in some 27 clubs from across the region.

Despite always being a popular meet on the regional swim calendar, this attendance was a massive and well deserved feat for the organising team at Ipswich.

The Open followed swiftly on the heels of the county's involvement in the Schools Competition at Sheffield – meaning many of the young contenders were fighting exhaustion to still successfully put down some credible overall results.

For Ipswich this latest event proved a tough, but important, East Anglian challenge.

The club faced competition from local rivals West Suffolk and Norwich Penguins.

Each of the three teams remained close in points throughout much of the event, however it was Norwich Penguins who eventually pulled away to take a convincing win on 343 points.

Meanwhile, West Suffolk stole second place from Ipswich on a very tight margin. They eventually amassed 293 points while Ipswich ended up in the bronze position on 284.

The three sessions of the event all presented some great performances by Suffolk swimmers, with many gaining convincing personal bests – often in their less favoured strokes.

Familiar faces were among those taking the golds for Ipswich.

Joe Rhodes was on his usual impressive form in the pool. He took first spot in the 15/16 year old 100 metre freestyle.

Matt Vinter also took first spot – this time in the 13/14 years 100m freestyle.

In the girls' section, triathlon star Abbie Thorrington sealed gold in the 100m butterfly for the 15/16 year old age group and in the 100m freestyle.

Sister Emily was also impressive. She took home third place for the 100m butterfly and third place 100m backstroke in the 12 year old age group.

Credible first places also belonged to Elisa Calver in the 100m 13/14 years backstroke, Matt Paine in the same event and in the 100m butterfly, Tim Price in the 50m freestyle and in the breastroke and John Sargent in the 100m backstroke.

The Best Boy Trophy – sponsored by Shire Trophies – went to Thomas Lang of West Suffolk.

The Best Girl Trophy – sponsored by Greshams Sports and Social Club Ltd – went to Victoria Cadge, also of West Suffolk.