West Norfolk swimmers perform well at Swim England’s East Region regionals in Norwich and Luton
The West Norfolk Swimming Club has made a splash in the swimming community with their impressive performance at the Swim England’s East Region regionals. Held over three weekends from March to May, the club’s talented squad of 37 swimmers showcased their skills and dedication, delivering outstanding results and personal bests in multiple events. The team’s hard work and perseverance paid off, with many swimmers reaching the finals and bringing home a haul of medals. The club’s success is a testament to the swimmers’ tireless efforts, as well as the unwavering support of their coaches, team managers, and sponsor, Supercrete Groundworks, who kindly supplied the team kit.
The 50m butterfly event proved to be a highlight for the club, with several swimmers making it to the finals. Valeria Soldatihhina, Olivia Bradford, Millie Harris, Alex Pattison, and Jamie Wilson all demonstrated their butterfly prowess, with Bradford taking gold in the 13-year category with a personal best time of 28.85 seconds. Soldatihhina secured silver with a time of 32.07, while Pattison and Wilson finished fifth and sixth, respectively. The 100m butterfly event also saw Soldatihhina and Bradford claim silver in their age groups, with Elizabeth Litvinenko adding a bronze to the club’s medal tally. These impressive performances set the tone for the rest of the competition, showcasing the team’s strength and depth in the butterfly events. The backstroke events also proved to be a strong suit for the club, with Soldatihhina winning silver in the 50m and 100m backstroke, and reaching the final in the 200m, where she was placed eighth.
The breaststroke events saw some intense competition, with Josh Jones and Thomas Baxter finishing seventh and eighth in the 50m breaststroke in the 16 years category. In the 17+ final, Sarah O’Brien earned a solid sixth-place finish, demonstrating her skill and determination. The 100m breaststroke saw Jones and Baxter improve their times, finishing fifth and seventh, while Finlay Ryan secured bronze in the 17+ category with a faster time than in his heats. In the 200m breaststroke, O’Brien was placed eighth in the 17+ category, Pattison finished sixth in the 15 years final, improving his previous time, and Jones clinched another bronze with a three-second personal best. These results highlight the club’s progression and growth in the breaststroke events, with many swimmers achieving personal bests and podium finishes.
The freestyle events were also a highlight for the club, with Soldatihhina participating in the 50m, 100m, 200m, and 400m races. She was placed fourth in the 50m, seventh in the 100m, and fourth again in both the 200m and 400m distances. Polly Anderson achieved eighth in the 50m freestyle final in the 13-year category, improving on her heat time, while Bradford finished fourth in the 50m and fifth in the 100m freestyle finals in the 14-year category. Harris earned silver in the 17+ 50m freestyle with an impressive 26.88 seconds, improving on her heat time of 27.01, and placed fifth in the 100m final. Oglesby took silver in the 50m freestyle in the 17+ category with a time of 24.19 seconds and placed fourth in the 100m final with 54.25 seconds. These outstanding performances demonstrate the club’s strength and depth in the freestyle events, with many swimmers achieving top-six finishes.
In addition to the individual events, the club’s relay teams also showed promise. The boys’ 400m medley relay team, comprising Thomas Baxter, Josh Jones, Jamie Wilson, and Alex Pattison, finished seventh. While not all swimmers reached the finals, strong performances came from Martha More, Ruby Baxter, and Milly Johnson in their heats, showing promising development and resilience in competitive fields. These results bode well for the club’s future, with many young swimmers demonstrating their potential and dedication to the sport. The club’s success is not just about the medals won, but also about the progress and growth of its swimmers, and the sense of camaraderie and teamwork that defines the club.
The West Norfolk Swimming Club would like to extend its gratitude to its sponsor, Supercrete Groundworks, for supplying the team kit, and to the coaches and team managers for their unwavering support. Congratulations to all swimmers who took part over the three intensive weekends of the 2025 regionals. The club’s achievements are a testament to the hard work and dedication of its swimmers, coaches, and support staff, and demonstrate the club’s commitment to developing the next generation of swimming talent. As the club looks to the future, it is clear that its swimmers will continue to make waves in the swimming community, inspiring others with their passion, perseverance, and teamwork. With its strong team ethos and talented squad, the West Norfolk Swimming Club is sure to remain a force to be reckoned with in the world of competitive swimming.
