BRIDGWATER Swimming Club took part in the A final of the 2018 Cotswold Series last weekend.

It marked the first occasion the club has made it to highest stage of the competition in over five years, giving them the chance to take on the best teams.

Only the top eight teams qualify, with Bridgwater seeded sixth.

The club didn’t have to wait long for the first victory, taken by Cameron Vearncombe in the open 100 Individual Medley. 

This was followed up by Max Head, who had an extremely good swim in the 11/u freestyle event to add another win. 

The boys were proving to be a force with Jack quickly following up with another win in the 13/u Breaststroke.

With a variety of other strong swims the club found itself winning the gala after the first 10 events on 60 points closely followed by Bristol Penguins.

The next win for Bridgwater came in event 16 by the boys 13/u freestyle relay (Josh Richards, Oskar Borowski, Jack Clarke, & Oliver Rowe).

Despite putting in strong swims the club struggled to take an event win until the open men’s medley relay (Alex Towells, Leon Crawley, Cameron Vearncombe & Ricky Hayes).

All the clubs raised their games and points after 30 events were Bridgwater 130, Cheltenham 134, Clevedon 146, Backwell 156, and Penguins 170.

Jazz Forsey was the next swimmer from Bridgwater to take an event win, despite swimming up two age groups in the open age group breaststroke event.

The club finished off the next period with wins in the girls 13/u medley relay (Isla Bennie, Jodie Prescott, Victoria Rybinska and Katie Derbyshire), and the boys 13/u medley relay (Oskar Borowski, Josh Richards, Oliver Rowe and Jack Clarke).

Final points; Bristol Henleaze 171, Wellington 203, Bath 213, Clevedon 216, Bridgwater 232, Cheltenham 259, Backwell 276, Penguins 289. 

All in all it was a fantastic result for Bridgwater, who finished two places higher than their seeded position.

To get involved with a club on the up, e-mail bridgwaterswim@gmail.com