Great Yarmouth Swimming Club was invited to send a team of swimmers to compete in the Thetford Dolphins Invitational Gala.

The gala was in memory of Tony Gale, who passed away earlier this year, and had been an active member of Thetford Dolphins for over 30 years in a number of different roles.

There were five teams competing: Diss Otters, First Strokes, Thetford White, Thetford Blue and Great Yarmouth, leading to some close racing and a good team atmosphere.

Great Yarmouth opened the evening strongly by winning the first event — boys and girls open 4 x 50m medley relay — in a close race with just over a second splitting the top three teams.

The girls’ 10 years and under relay team continued the success by taking home maximum points in their 4x 25m medley relay, showing great ability across the different strokes.

The relays continued at the end of the evening, with Great Yarmouth winning the boys’ 12 and under 4x25m freestyle relay, the girls’ 10 and under 4x25m freestyle relay and the boys’ and girls’ open 50m freestyle.

There were other notable swims from the Great Yarmouth team during the evening.

Tommy Chandler won the 100m breaststroke in an excellent 1.13.59, Amelia Dibble and Billy Wilson both ok maximum points in the 10 and under 50m freestyle and Jenna Utting convincingly won the open 100m butterfly. Finley Coman won the 12 and under 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke, Ryan Webb won a close 100m backstroke in an excellent new PB time of 1.05.60 and Kelsey Wilson took a great win in the girls’ 100m freestyle.

Skye Nichols won the girls’ 10 and under 50m fly, Grace Leech won the girls’ open 100m freestyle and Grace Turner earnt maximum points in the 10 and under 50m backstroke.

Other team members also swam strongly throughout the evening earning valuable points, which contributed to a respectable overall finishing position for the club of second place, behind the home team of Thetford White who won the gala.

Other team members who swam were Grace Leech, Anna Pearce, Jacob Zandbergen, Mollie Medler, Ben Bedford, Melissa Duffield, Bethany Gordon, Alyssa Greenall, Harvey Larner, Sam Coman, Jasmine Coleman and Anna Duffield.