Hemel’s success at the Herts County Championships continued on the fourth day with eleven more gold medals for Lois Moore (3), Charlie Rayner (2), Holly Robinson (2), Jacob Hutchings, Emily Jelfs, Rob Jennings and Tom Sherriff, and 17 other top 3 finishes. There was also a first ever Regional qualifying time for Jonny Farrow and a season-first Regional qualifying time for Matt Sherriff.
Lois Moore (19) won her age-group competitions in the 200 free, 50 free and the 50 back taking her tally of wins to five in the Championship to a date. She also came third in the 50 back open final and third in her age-group in the 50 fly. Charlie Rayner (13) continued his fantastic form at the championships and now has six gold medals, adding golds in the 50 free with a 1½ second PB in a new Regional qualifying time and the 200 breast to his successes last weekend. Holly Robinson (10) took her tally of golds to three with wins in the 50 back and 50 free setting 2½ second and 3 second PBs respectively, and Emily Jelfs (16) won her second gold of the competition in the 50 free.
The 400 IM proved to be a happy hunting ground for Hemel swimmers with Tom Sherriff (19) winning his age-group with an impressive 10 second PB to register another Regional qualifying time. Tom also finished third in the open 400 IM and second in the 50 free. Rob Jennings won gold in the 17 age-group 400 IM with a 6 second PB and Jacob Hutchings won gold in the 16 age-group, again in the 400 IM.
Matt Sherriff (17) won silver in his age-group in the 50 free breaking the 25 second barrier for the first time and, in an injury hit season, achieved his first Regional qualifying time of the year. Matt also won bronze in the 50 free open final where he was joined in a strong Hemel representation by Freddie Woodcock and Tom Sherriff who finished 4th and 5th respectively.
Millie Anderton (10) took silver in the 50 back with a massive 5 second PB as well as taking bronze in the 50 fly with a 2½ second PB. Aimee Abrey (16) took silver in the 50 back and bronze in the 200 free and there were also silvers for Jack Christie (16) in the 200 breast with a 6 second PB, Tom Frewin (18) in the 200 breast and Josh Gaines (16) in the 100 back.
Georgia Purkis (12) won bronze in the 400 free setting a 6 second PB in a new regional qualifying time alongside a bronze in the 200 free. There were also bronzes for Libby Grant (9) in the 200 free with an impressive 6 second PB as well as in the 50 back, Max Jelfs (13) in the 200 fly, who in the process set a new Regional qualifying time, and Freddie Woodcock in the 50 free.
Away from the medals there were any number of excellent performances. Jonny Farrow (13) recorded a 2½ second PB in the 100 back to post his first ever Regional qualifying time. In the same event there were also significant personal bests from Joe Coldwell (12) with a 5 second improvement, Sam Gaines with a 2½ second improvement and Ashley Coombs (13) with a 2 second improvement.
The McKenna sisters had a frustrating weekend with Shona (13) only narrowly missing her 200 free Regional qualifying time despite setting an impressive 4 second PB, and Keelin even closer to her 50 back Regional qualifying time. Billy Grant (12) recorded a 4 second PB in the 200 free but arguably her best swim of the day came in the 400 free with a 19 second PB. In the same event Lois Goad (11) set a 5 second PB and Shaminah Sherwani-Keeling (14) improved her best time by 4 seconds.
Harrison Newbury-Kemp (14) continued his sequence of excellent performances at the championships with a 2½ second PB in the 100 IM, whilst in the 400 IM Tilly Beckwith swam an 8 second PB and Eleanor Bevan (13) a 5½ second PB to record a new Regional qualifying time. Izzie Anderton (12) set a 2½ second PB in the 50 fly and in the 200 breast there were 19 second PBs for Luke Pestaille (11), 10 seconds for Elliott Davies (10) and 4 seconds for Neil Brevern (11).