SWIMMING — Success For Inverclyde Competitors In National Schools Contest

FIFTEEN members of Inverclyde Amateur Swimming Club represented six Inverclyde schools at the Scottish Schools Swimming Championships, winning three golds, one silver, one bronze with a host of top-flight finishes and new personal best times.

The event got off to a flying start with Aimee Watson and Molly Cannon going in the 15 to 16 years 200-metre breaststroke. Clydeview’s Aimee was one of the pre-event favourites, and it turned into an exciting battle for gold.

It was neck and neck throughout the race, with Aimee, pictured above, and below, centre, just stretching ahead in the last few metres to claim an outstanding win. St Columba’s, Gourock pupil Molly exceeded pre-race expectations to finish in a strong 11th place.

Aimee and Molly were back in action in the 100-metre breaststroke. Again, it was a close battle at the front, with Aimee swimming another incredible race to claim silver. Molly finished strongly in 14th, just a fraction of a second off 10th place.

Sam Sharkey and Lauren Macleay, both of Clydeview, picured right, came a very impressive sixth in their events — the 200-metre individual medley for Sam and the 100-metre backstroke for Lauren.

Notre Dame swimmers Jay Keith and Nathan Peoples both swam in the 13 to 14 years 100-metre butterfly. Swimming in his first national competition, Nathan came a very respectable 18th, and Jay capitalised on his recent great form to finish in a great ninth place. St Columba’s Kilmacolm’s Ashleigh Blyth finished well in 18th place in the 15 to 16 years 100-metre butterfly.

Three primary school pupils were competing in the 12 and under events. Moorfoot Primary was represented by Luke Garrity, above, who was swimming in the 50-metre breaststroke. Luke put in an excellent performance to finish 11th and was unlucky not to make the final. Also swimming the 50-metre breaststroke, Betty Fischer-Keogh from St Ninian’s qualified for her final where she finished in a superb seventh place.

Nine-year-old Archie McArthur was the youngest competitor of the entire event, swimming in the 50-metre butterfly. The St Columba’s Kilmacolm pupil showed what exciting potential he has, finishing in 10th place against swimmers two years older than him.

Kian McNelis of Clydeview put in a great performance to finish 12th in the 200-metre freestyle. Kian then went on to do the double, bagging another 12th place in the 100-metre event.

Clydeview’s Matthew Garrity, above, was competing in the 15 to 16 years 200-metre breaststroke and the 100-metre event. Just like Aimee, Matthew was a pre-race favourite for both his races. In the 200-metre race, he executed a perfect final turn to move ahead of the competition and comfortably win gold. It was a closer battle in the 100-metre event, but Matthew kept his cool and stayed in control to win his second gold.

Kian McNelis, Matthew Garrity and Aimee Watson

In the 17 to 19 years 200-metre breaststroke, Thomas Cannon of St Columba’s, Gourock swam a fantastic final 50 metres to claim bronze, just missing out on the silver by a fraction of a second. Buoyed up by his success, Thomas then went on to claim 5th in the 100-metre breaststroke in the last swim of the competition.

Competing in the 15 to 16 years 200m butterfly, Aaron Gray of St Columba’s, Gourock put in a fine performance to claim sixth place. Shortly after, Emily Lightfoot, from the same school, swam in the 17 to 19 year 200-metre individual medley, earning a great eighth place. It was a long and tiring day, but the swimmers were all delighted with their performances and results.