At the National Arena Swimming League Round 1 there was a fantastic team effort from all the Hemel Hempstead swimmers. The Hemel team won first place on the night with 322 points.
During the course of the meet the Hemel swimmers achieved 12 first, 16 second and 13 third place finishes. An outstanding relay team effort achieving two first places came from the Girls 15-U 4 x 50m Free and 4 x 50m medley relay team consisting of Paige Wilding, Grace Rayner, Emily Jelfs and Aimee Abrey. Likewise the boys 11-Under medley relay team also achieved first, again superb swims from Ashley Coombs, Edward Shaw, Charles Rayner and Jamie Ayers, both teams were awarded Hemel’s swimmers of the gala.
Other great firsts came from the Girls 6 x 50m free relay consisting of Emily Jelfs, Kira Doyle, Lois Moore, Aimee Abrey, Hannah Bagley and Devon Prior and from the boys open 6 x 50m Medley Relay team (Peter Kennett, Matt Sherriff, Sam Pigott, Tom Sherriff, Liam Barnett and Freddie Woodcock). The relay teams also achieved 28 relay PB’s, and 3 Arena Relay best times.
Winning individual solid swims from Megan Pirrie 13-U 100m breast, 13-U 100m Fly, Emily Jelfs, 15-U 100m Free, Charles Rayner 11-U 50m breast, Ben Garratt 13-U 100m Free, and Tom Sherriff in the Open 100m Free contributed to the Hemel’s win on the night.
There were also 18 Personal Best times during the gala from Peter Kennett (3), Charles Rayner (2), Kyle Holmes (2), Ashley Coombs (2), Ben Garratt (2), Edward Shaw, Tom Sherriff, Megan Pirrie (2), Lauren Windsor, Leanne Abrey, and Emily Jelfs.
The Hemel Team wil be in action again at Round 2 of the National Arena Swimming League on 10th November in Eltham, South London. Hemel currently sit top of the London Division 2 league