SWIMMING: Isabel claims silver medal

The final weekend of the East Midlands Regional Championships saw eight members of Deepings Swimming Club travel to Sheffield to compete against the best swimmers from Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

They represented the club in seven of the eight events, all 50-metre sprints, which took place at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre long-course pool.

Isabel Spinley, Holly Leggott, Bethany Eagle-Brown, Louis Metselaar and Tom Neal made eight finals.

Spinley won a silver medal in the 50m butterfly.

Leggott and Metselaar narrowly missed out on the medals, finishing fourth in the 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke respectively after two excellent swims.

Three swimmers achieved new personal bests – Eagle-Brown and Leggott in the 50m backstroke plus Neal in the 50m backstroke and butterfly.

Also representing Deepings at the championships were Jessie Spooner and Bailie Harrison, both in the 50m butterfly and backstroke, and Tom Adams in the 50m breaststroke and butterfly.

Deepings Swimming Club head coach Lynn Chapman said: “The team did well against tough opposition.

“Although we only won one medal, we made eight finals and everyone swam well, with some good personal bests achieved.”

The Grantham Grand Prix also concluded this month with the fourth and final round.

The competition is a series of time trials for eight to 12-year-olds, based on a points awards system.

Five Deepings swimmers collected trophies for finishing in the top six places in their respective age groups.

Lucia Karic won the 9 years girls category, with Grace Edwards finishing sixth.

Jacob Briers was third in the 9 years boys, Lilly Tappern came fourth in the 10 years girls and Alex Sadler finished fifth in the 11 years boys.