Twelve Tavistock Swimming Club swimmers took part in this year’s Devonport Royal Summer Sizzler, the last Life Centre gala of 2025/26. The heat and humidity on poolside challenged the volunteers but the swimmers were undeterred. Between them, they achieved 33 personal bests out of 52 events swum, with Eliza and Rosie both managing PBs in all their races. Lottie (bronze in the 100m free and 200m free), Tanisha (bronze in the 100m back) and Dom (bronze in 100m fly) all also won medals at the busy and competitive meet.
The following weekend, while club members Sam Lake, Charlotte Walker and Hannah Walker were at the European Aquathlon Championships and David Hopes was swimming the length of Lake Ullswater, others celebrated the end of term with a team gala at Meadowlands. Teams competed over a total of 27 events, from the traditional 100m individual medley race to the novel (and dizzying) corkscrew relay. The team captains (Tanisha, Cora and Lottie jointly, Isla and Ellie) did an excellent job of organising their teams and it was a delight to see how well the experienced swimmers looked after the younger ones. There were exciting races and close finishes, but in the end Tanisha’s team won by a convincing 13 points. Ellie and Lottie received the “swimmers of the gala” trophies and Toby and Finlay deserve special mention for doing themselves credit in what was their first competition. A big thank you to Texaco Service Station, who made the evening special with their donation of trophies, prizes for members of the winning team and ice-creams all round at the end.
