OVER the last month 31 members of Bridgwater Swimming Club have smashed their personal best times competing at the County Championships.

Things got off to a flying start, with Jess Barham picking up a silver medal in the 100m backstroke, Ollie Willis two bronze medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke and Greg Kyd bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

Top-ten finishes also came from Rachael Barr, Jess Barham, Ollie Willis, Adam Parchment and the club’s relay teams, setting the tone for the championships.

During the second weekend Jess Barham gained another silver in the 200m backstroke, with top-ten finishes from Alicia Symes, Sam Young, Jess Barham, Adam Parchment, Greg Kyd, Scott Gibbs, Sean Fletcher, Tom Bryan and Tom Fournier d’Albe.

The championships culminated in a fantastic last weekend.

Jess Barham and Ollie Wills picked up golds to become county champions in the 50m backstroke.

There were two more bronze medals for Jess and one for Louise Evans, with more top-ten finishes for Kayleigh Parker, Chloe Edrich, Rachael Barr, Alicia Symes, Adam Parchment, Ollie Willis, Richard Hill, Adam Carthew, Scott Gibbs and Tom Fournier d’Albe.

In all the Bridgwater swimmers achieved 110 personal bests, 61 top-ten finishes and ten medals.

It was a wonderful championship for Bridgwater, which was only fitting after all the hard work the swimmers and coaches had put in over the last year.

Other Bridgwater swimmers who qualified to swim were Orla McKay, Bethany Newton, Hannah Gosling, Mia Borthwick, Jack Verncombe, Alex Carthew, Helena Taylor, Hannah Symes, Matt Chapman, Lawrence Taylor, Jordan Cheffey, Lucy Tanner, Leo Willis and Scott Fletcher.

The club finished tenth overall in the points table – a great achievement especially as they are small compared to most who took part in the event.