EAST Lothian Swim Team (ELST) – made up of swimmers from Haddington, Musselburgh and Tranent swimming clubs – were competing on two fronts earlier this month.

Seventeen ELST swimmers qualified for the Scottish National Open Championships, held at Aberdeen Sports Village Aquatics Centre from July 1 to 3.

Medal winners in Aberdeen were:

East Lothian Courier: Luke Hornsey and Tegan Black were among the medallists in the Scottish National Open ChampionshipsLuke Hornsey and Tegan Black were among the medallists in the Scottish National Open Championships

  • Tegan Black won gold in the 200m breaststroke, 800m and 1,500m freestyle junior events. Black’s swim in the 1,500m event was also good enough for the silver medal in the open event;
  • Sam Downie won three silver medals in the 50m, 100m and 400m multi-class freestyle events;
  • Luke Hornsey was the junior champion in the 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle event;
  • Stefan Krawiec won gold in the 100m and 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly junior events;
  • Helen Stoddart was the junior champion in the 50m butterfly;
  • Zara Krawiec, Calum Peebles, Zach Slater and Louisa Stoddart also made finals at the championships.

While the Scottish National Open Championships were going on, a group of ELST swimmers made their way across the Border to compete in the Sunderland ASC Summer Splash Gala (July 2-3) held at Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

Among those competing for ELST were:

  • Girls’ 11 years – Morven Kenny finished sixth in the 100m backstroke;
  • Girls’ 12 years – Ava Marko won gold in the 50m freestyle and bronze in the 100m butterfly. Marko also finished fifth in the 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley (IM), and sixth in the 100m freestyle and backstroke events. Meadow McCabe finished sixth in the 100m butterfly;
  • Boys’ 13 years – Conner Aspinall won two golds in the 200m freestyle and backstroke events and picked up three silvers in the 200m individual medley (IM) and the 100m freestyle and backstroke events;
  • Girls’ 17 years – Emma Finlay won silver in the 200m backstroke.

Jamie Ward, ELST head coach, was delighted with the swimmers’ performances over the weekend.

He said: “I was really happy to see our athletes competing on two fronts.

“Many of our swimmers are in heavy training at the moment as we prepare for the summer championship meets, so for them to have performed so well is a great indicator for upcoming meets.”