Theo Qualifies For National ISA Swimming Championships
A team of 20 swimmers from Crackley Hall School made the journey to Walsall Baths on Thursday 3 November to compete in the Independent Schools Association’s (ISA) Midlands Junior Swimming Gala.
With 27 schools competing, the pupils from Juniors 4, 5 and 6 knew right from the start they would all have to swim superbly if Crackley was to have any chance of being placed in the overall team competition. Success at the Regional event would qualify pupils for the ISA National Championships due to take place in early December in London at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.
The children swam 25m in the pool and the races included both individual events and exciting team relays. For some of the children it was their very first experience of competitive galas but as always Crackley Hall’s pupils encouraged each other, from the start through to the finish of every single race.
Junior 4’s Theo swam sensationally in the Year 4 Boys 25m Backstroke just snatching the victory in a super time of 24.25 seconds, earning himself a well-deserved place in the National Finals. While Junior 5’s Alexa stayed strong in the 25m Freestyle completing the course in 21.57 seconds to finish third and take the Bronze medal.
In the Relays, the Year 4 Boys claimed a Silver medal in the Freestyle Relay, while the Year 6 Boys and the Year 5 Girls earned themselves Bronze medals with third place finishes in the Freestyle Relay.
Across the team, Crackley’s swimmers put in strong performances with a number just missing out on medals when they finished in fourth place, but their performances all helped Crackley Hall to finish in 5th place overall at the end of the day. It was a very creditable result for the school.
Crackley Hall's Director of Sport, Mrs Kat Vaughan, was delighted and commented, “As always there was a fabulous atmosphere poolside, with the whole team willing each other on. We had some excellent swims and tight finishes, Crackley has some very determined children. Many congratulations to Theo for qualifying for the prestigious National competition in London.”
Well done to all of Crackley Hall’s swimmers for their excellent effort and good luck to Theo in the National Finals!