EARLY in the summer term, 16 swimmers from Long Stratton High School participated in the Norfolk Schools Swimming Gala. Five swimmers - Matthew Vertigans, Oliver Taylor, Keir Murray, George Neal and Chelsea Garrod - were selected for the final County Schools Gala held at the UEA.

EARLY in the summer term,

16 swimmers from Long Stratton High School participated in the Norfolk Schools Swimming Gala.

Five swimmers - Matthew Vertigans, Oliver Taylor, Keir Murray, George Neal and Chelsea Garrod - were selected for the final County Schools Gala held at the UEA.

At UEA, there were seven partnership teams and Long Stratton students were in the South Norfolk team.

Chelsea could not attend the final because of a holiday.

Matthew Vertigans won backcrawl, butterfly and helped the relay team to win, George Neal came first in breaststroke, Keir Murray came in seventh in the backcrawl, and Oliver Taylor was a crucial member

of all the relay teams which came first.

Overall points were: Breckland 88, North Norfolk 105, Norwich 107, East Norfolk 119, West Norfolk 122, South Norfolk 132, Norwich West 133.

Last month, an Aquathlon quarter-final was held at Wymondham (partnership schools). Aquathlon is a 150m swim for Year 7 and a run of 1,500m, 200m swim for Years 8 and 9 and a run of 2,000m.

Each competitor has to swim continuously and then out of the pool to a transition area where they change into running gear and run the required distance for their year.

The results were: Year 7 boys, George Neal came third and qualified for the semi-final; Year 7 girls, Katie Stratton came fifth and qualified for the semi-final, and Georgia Doman sixth. Year 8 boys, James Bruzos came first and qualified for semi-final; Year 9 boys, Matthew Vertigans came fifth; Year 9 girls, Lara Bruzos came 18th.

In the semi-final at UEA, all schools in East of England region competed. George Neal and Katie Stratton came 13th but did not qualify for final. James Bruzos came sixth and qualified for final. The final was held in Essex, and James Bruzos came fifth.

Also, during the year Long Stratton's top swimmers have helped with the partnership galas that have been held at

the school.

They have been in the water to assist with Years 3 and 4. All the primary schools who participated have commended Long Stratton students for their professionalism and care with the more vulnerable swimmers.

The galas were a great success.