The Norfolk County Championships 2020 got underway at The Sportspark in Norwich on Saturday 18th January. The competition runs across three consecutive weekends.
Overall a total of 74 West Norfolk Swimming Club members qualified to compete during the championships, a figure that represents over 50% of all swimming members.
For this first weekend of three, when the long-distance events took place, Suffolk ASA raced alongside their Norfolk counterparts in the only 50m pool across the two counties.
On Saturday morning the girls got things underway with the 800m freestyle, whilst the boys had to wait until the afternoon for their 1500m event. On Sunday the racing was reversed.
Over the course of the weekends freestyle events #purplearmy swimmers gave a great account of themselves, racking up an initial clutch of 15 medals from 27 swims and a host of personal best times;
SATURDAY 18TH JANUARY
GIRLS 800M FREESTYLE
12yrs age group;
Wiktoria Marcineck, 11:26.77 (PB). Bronze
13yrs age group;
Olivia Skittrell, 10:57.14. Bronze
Chloe Bellamy, 11:14.15 (PB). 6th
Jaime Sturge, 12:08.38. 8thq
14yrs age group;
Esmie Kidman, 10:22.48 (PB). Silver
15yrs age group;
Leah Wightman, 10:04.18. Silver in age group and in 16/under
in age group and in 16/under
17/over age group;
Joseph Read, 10:41.56, 9th.

After lunch, the West Norfolk boys got underway.
BOYS 1500m FREESTYLE
13yrs age group;
Harry Malton, 21:50.03, 5th
Rhys Burrell, 22:37.87, 6th
15yrs age group;
Harvey Isle, 19:20.47, 4th and 5th 16/under
Harry Sharpe, 19:10.24. Bronze and 4th 16/under

16yrs age group;
Robert Addis, 19:35.18. Silver and 6th 16/under
17/over age group;
Freddie Laws, 17:57.81. Gold, and bronze in the open category.
Callum Stedman, 18:30.62. Bronze and 5th in open.

SUNDAY 19TH JANUARY 2020
BOYS 800M FREESTYLE
13yrs age group
Jack Sharpe, 11:08.24, 4th.
Harry Malton, 11:11.58, 5th
15yrs age group
Harry Sharpe 9:52.47. Bronze,
Harvey Isle 10:11.54, 5th
16yrs age group
Robert Addis, 10:01.82. Silver,
17/over age group
Joseph Wells 9:25.87. Gold
Jake Lammas 9:52.57. Silver
GIRLS 1500M FREESTYLE
12yrs age group
Wiktoria Marcinek, 21:48.01. Bronze
13yrs age group
Olivia Skittrell, 20:23.64. Bronze
14yrs age group
Esmie Kidman, 19:42.62. Gold
15yrs age group
Leah Wightman, 19:16.56. Silver

West Norfolk Swimmers pictured before their Sunday competitions;
Boys – Back Jack Sharpe, Harry Malton. Front Robert Addis, Harry Sharp and Jake Lammas
Wiktoria Marcinek