COUNTY swimmers have taken home more than 40 medals from a prestigious event at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.

East Lothian Swim Team (ELST) – made up of the best young talent from Haddington, Musselburgh and Tranent swim clubs – secured 41 individual medals at the second round of the East District Championships last weekend.

This round of the championships covers the 50m and 200m events (backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle).

East Lothian Courier: Zach Slater, Ross Winters, Anna Lawson and Ava Marko enjoyed an impressive showing at the Royal Commonwealth PoolZach Slater, Ross Winters, Anna Lawson and Ava Marko enjoyed an impressive showing at the Royal Commonwealth Pool

The girls’ medal winners were as follows:

  • In the 13-years’ age group, Eilidh Fee (Tranent) won a silver in the 50m butterfly and a bronze in the 50m back;
  • Zara Krawiec (Tranent) dominated the weekend in the 14-years’ age group, winning gold medals in all eight events. In the same age group, Anna Lawson (Musselburgh) won three medals: one silver (50m free) and two bronze (50m breaststroke and butterfly). Ava Marko (Musselburgh) won a silver in the 50m butterfly, Lucy Hall (Haddington) won a bronze in the 200m freestyle and Isla Whetton (Haddington) picked up a bronze in the 50m backstroke.
  • Tegan Black (Tranent) and Helen Stoddart (Haddington) both picked up a couple of medals in the 16-years’ age group. Black won a silver in the 200m breaststroke and a bronze in the 200m backstroke. Stoddart won two bronze medals in the 50m backstroke and butterfly events.

East Lothian Courier: Conner Aspinall won seven medals during the eventConner Aspinall won seven medals during the event

The boys had an equally impressive medal haul:

  • In the 13-years’ age group, Boyd Fearnside (Haddington) won a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke.
  • In the 14-years’ age group, Conner Aspinall (Haddington) had a great weekend, winning four gold medals in the backstroke and freestyle events, as well two silvers (50m and 200m breaststroke) and a bronze in 200m butterfly. Lewis Lothian (Haddington) won a bronze in the 50m butterfly.
  • Ross Anderton (Tranent) was also in impressive form, winning six medals: two golds (in the butterfly events), two silvers (in the 50m breaststroke and 200m backstroke) and two bronze medals (50m backstroke and 200m freestyle) in the 15-year-old age group. Alex Taylor (Tranent) also picked up a silver medal in the 50m freestyle in this age group.
  • Zach Slater (Musselburgh) also had a very good meet, picking up two golds (50m freestyle and butterfly) and three silvers (50m backstroke, 200m freestyle and butterfly) in the 16-year-old age group.

East Lothian Courier: Tegan Black and Zara Krawiec both stepped onto the podiumTegan Black and Zara Krawiec both stepped onto the podium

The team also had a significant number of finalists over the weekend, with many making multiple finals: Eilidh Armstrong, Findlay Brown, Alice Finlay, Lucy Fleming, Olivia Flockhart, Grace Hanak, Roni Kariuki, Declan Kay, Eva Kay, Carly Marshall, Meadow McCabe, Kirsty Sievwright, Owen Williamson and Ross Winters.

Jamie Ward, ELST head coach, said: “The East District Championships is a major event in our calendar, with our swimmers competing against the very best swimmers from the Lothians, Borders and Fife across all of the swimming disciplines.

“I was delighted with their performances over the weekend and the team are looking forward to the final round of the championships at the end of March, which is great preparation for the Scottish Nationals in April.”