EAST Lothian Swim Team (ELST) – made up of swimmers from Haddington, Musselburgh and Tranent swim clubs – were competing on two fronts last weekend.

Twenty-one ELST swimmers qualified for the Scottish National Open Championships held at Tollcross International Swimming Centre at the beginning of the month.

Medal winners in Glasgow were:

  • Sam Downie won a silver medal in the 400m and two bronze medals in the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke multi-class events. Downie also broke the British record in the S8 200m backstroke in a time of 2m27.78s;
  • Luke Hornsey was the open champion in the 400m and 1,500m freestyle events. Hornsey also won the Eileen Adams Trophy for the best combined performance in the senior men’s 200m and 400m freestyle events using FINA points;
  • Helen Stoddart was the junior champion in the 50m butterfly.

East Lothian Courier: Helen Stoddart was in impressive form in the 50m butterflyHelen Stoddart was in impressive form in the 50m butterfly

Elsewhere at the event, Eilidh Armstrong, Conner Aspinall, Zara Krawiec, Anna Lawson, Caitlin Peebles, Calum Peebles and Owen Williamson all made finals at the championships.

Lawson broke the East District girls’ 13-years record for the 50m freestyle in a time of 27.57 seconds.

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 1-2) held at Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

East Lothian Courier: Sam Downie returned from the Scottish National Open Championship with three medalsSam Downie returned from the Scottish National Open Championship with three medals

Medal winners from the county squad were:

  • Girls’ 12 years – Eilidh Fee won a full set of medals in the backstroke events, winning gold in the 200m, silver in the 100m and bronze in the 50m. Morven Kenny also won a silver medal in the 200m backstroke;
  • Girls’ 13 years – Ava Marko won two bronze medals in the 50m and 100m butterfly events;
  • Boys’ 14 years – Lewis Lothian also won two bronze medals in the 50m freestyle and the 200m backstroke.

East Lothian Courier: Luke Hornsey returned from Glasgow with the Eileen Adams TrophyLuke Hornsey returned from Glasgow with the Eileen Adams Trophy

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 this weekend. 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.”