Medal haul for Tring youngsters at the Hoddesdon Open Meet

Though it was an early season meet, the swimmers gained a number of PBs and a haul of 47 medals, with Chloe Woodruff earning two speeding tickets.

Gold medals were won by: Molly Bradley - 100m backstroke; Isobel Geller - 50m breaststroke; Nathan Gething - 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle; Daisy Knight - 100m breaststroke; Sam Pyefinch -200m IM and 100m freestyle; Amaya Stephenson - 200m IM; Alice Weston - 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle; Woodruff - 200m IM.

Pyefinch gained medals in all but one of his 10 swims, Brianna Mazey gained medals in each of her seven swims, while Geller and Thomas Monks won medals in all four of theirs.

On a day of excellent swimming by Team Tring, particular stand-out swims came from Pyefinch in the 200m IM, Josh Weston in the 100m IM and Knight in the 50m butterfly as she belied her age and size by beating older and bigger girls through excellent technique and skills.

Coach Steve Aldred said: “It was really pleasing to see the skills progression being made by the younger swimmers.

“They were continually gaining on faster swimmers in their heats with their breakouts from their starts and turns. This of course is testament to the great work being done by the coaching team.”

Several of the Tring team achieved county times at the meet: Woodruff for 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke, Gething for 50m and 100m freestyle, Josh Weston for 100m breaststroke, and Pyefinch for 200m freestyle and 200m IM.

Finally, a special mention from coach Aldred for Marcia Billingham who, despite struggling with illness, swam throughout the day and did not pull out of any events.

Aldred said: “Though her illness caught up with her in her last two swims, earlier she gained three bronze medals and two PBs.

“With her continuing improvement in skills, especially her starts, I am sure when she swims free from illness, PBs and improved performance will come.”