BRIDGWATER Swimming Club have taken part in their first open meet of the season following the summer break.

The club started off the season at the Clevedon Sprint Meet in impressive form, with many swimmers winning medals, setting personal best times and qualifying for the Somerset Championships.

Results

In the 9/10 years age group for boys: Max Head - took gold in the 50 back, bronze in the 100 individual medley and gold in the 50 free.

Girls 11 years - Isla Bennie silver medal in the 50 free, gold 50 backstroke.

Boys 11 years - Oliver Rowe bronze 50 fly.

Girls 12 years - Isobel Brown silver 50 free; Katie Derbyshire 100 individual medley gold; Jazz Forsey, silver, bronze 50 fly and back, gold 50 breaststroke; Alice Pittey bronze 50 breaststroke.

Boys 13 years - Josh Richards bronze50 back, gold50 breaststroke; Ben Towells gold 100 individual medley, bronze 50 fly, silver 50 free.

Girls 15 years - Luisa Dark bronze 50 breaststroke.

Boys 16 years - Alex Towells gold 50 back, silver 50 breaststroke, 100 individual medley, bronze 50 fly.

The final event of the meet was the boys 50 free and Towells faced a head-to-head with his coach Ricky Hayes, who made a return to meet level competition for many years.

Towells took the race in his stride, powering down the first 25m and beating Ricky out of the turn to storm home to finish off the meet with a well-earned gold medal, also coming in ahead of his coach for the first time.

Hayes took the silver, making it a Bridgwater one-two in the final race and heat of the day.

To top off the event, Towells was awarded the top swimmer award in the 16 years and over group, while Forsey was top girl in the 12 years age group.

Overall, the club came second in the top visiting club competition out of 14 clubs from across the South West; in total the club took 22 medals.

A number of swimmers – including Madision Chilcott, Katie Derbyshire, Jazz Forsey, Michal Kucia and Alice Pittey – all took part in the highly competitive Exeter Open Meet the following weekend and recorded some quick times.