Aqualibrium Leisure Centre was awash with activity last week, when 125 swimmers from primary and secondary schools across Argyll and Bute descended for the Scottish Schools Swimming Championships area trials.
Swimmers competed in Campbeltown on Tuesday November 14 in a bid to achieve consideration times to represent Argyll and Bute schools at the competition finals at the Dollan Aqua Centre, East Kilbride, on Friday January 26, 2024.
Nine swimmers from Islay High School travelled the night before to ensure they could compete in the event, with others travelling on the day from as far afield as Mull and Helensburgh and referee Elizabeth Fitzsimmons making the journey from Troon to support the event.
With a busy programme of 58 events ranging from 50m swims for primary entrants to 100m, 200m and 400m for secondary entrants, the warm-up started in earnest at 10am, with the competition starting sharp at 10.30am.
The events were continuous, with a short 30-minute break at lunch to allow all the officials and volunteers a well-deserved lunch break. The afternoon’s session finished just in time for Aqualibrium’s swimming lessons at 3pm.
Campbeltown Grammar School had a strong entry, with 18 swimmers representing the school winning an outstanding 21 golds, 15 silver and 17 bronze medals throughout the day’s competition.
Fourth year pupil Emma Millar achieved consideration times in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle, as well as 100m butterfly, and Niamh Quinn, also in S4, achieved times in 100m and 200m breaststroke as well as 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley.
S2 pupil Angus Woods achieved times in the 100m and 200m backstroke as well as the 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley, and Lucy McFadzean, also S2, achieved times in the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle.
These pupils must choose one event over 100m and one event over 200m/400m to be considered for the finals in January.
Kintyre’s primary school entrants, swimming events over 50m in all strokes, swept the board, with six golds going to swimmers from Dalintober Primary School and two going to Castlehill swimmers.
Dalintober swimmers also took four silver and four bronze medals, with Castlehill taking two silver and two bronze medals.
Organisers were pleased to see a 4x25m primary relay event this year, with the Castlehill girls’ team of Sophie Millar, Jessica McGeachy, Caoihme Quinn and Beau Tumelty taking gold ahead of Dalintober girls’ team of Niamh McSporran, Eva McKinven, Nina Woods and Mica Nimmo.
The Dalintober boys’ team of Kyle McQuaker, Robert Reid, Jack Barr and Nathan Thomson took gold in their event.
Dalintober’s Kyle McQuaker and Niamh McSporran achieved consideration times in the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle events and will have to choose one of these to hopefully make it into the finals in January.
Based on the times achieved at the trials in Aqualibrium, it is hoped that a number of Kintyre swimmers will make the finals in East Kilbride in January.
Next year’s area trials are scheduled to take place in November 2024 in Riverside, Dunoon.