EAST Lothian Swim Team (ELST) have finished as the third best team in Scotland at the Scottish National Age Group Championships (SNAGs) for the third year in a row.

The event, held over five days at the Aberdeen Aquatics Centre from Wednesday to Sunday, is attended by more than 50 swim teams and showcases the best swimming talent from around the country.

In total, there were 41 swimmers representing ELST, collectively bringing home 31 individual medals, with a further four medals coming from the relays.

East Lothian Courier: Conner Aspinall returned from Aberdeen with six medals, including three goldsConner Aspinall returned from Aberdeen with six medals, including three golds

The boys’ medal winners were:

  • Conner Aspinall (15 years) won six medals, with gold in the 200m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle. He also achieved silver in the 400m freestyle and 200m and 400m individual medley (IM);
  • Stefan Krawiec (17 and 18 years) won seven medals, with gold in the 200m IM, 100m and 50m freestyle, and 50m back. He also achieved silver in the 400m IM and 50m and 100m backstroke;
  • Calum Peebles (17 and 18 years) won gold in the 200m backstroke, silver in the 100m backstroke and bronze in the 200m freestyle;
  • Zach Slater (17 and 18 years) won silver in the 100m and 200m freestyle and a bronze in the 50m butterfly.

East Lothian Courier: East Lothian Swim Team member Tegan Black picked up five medals in AberdeenEast Lothian Swim Team member Tegan Black picked up five medals in Aberdeen

The girls had an equally impressive meet with the medallists being:

  • Zara Krawiec (15 years) won six medals, with gold in the 100m freestyle, 200m IM, and 100m and 200m backstroke. She also achieved silver in the 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly;
  • Anna Lawson (15 years) won gold in the 50m freestyle;
  • Tegan Black (17 and 18 years) won five medals, with gold in the 200m and 400m IM, and bronze in the 200m breaststroke, 400m and 800m freestyle.

In addition to the medallists, the following swimmers earned places in individual finals and contributed valuable points towards the third place finish: Kate Nolan, Lucy Hall, Ross Winters, Ismail Shalaby, Lewis Lothian, Ross Anderton, Eilidh Armstrong, Panos Angelakis, Alex Taylor, Isla Whetton and Veronika Kariuki.

In the relays, the team earned a silver in the male 4x100m freestyle (17 and over), and three bronze medals in the male and female 4x100m freestyle (14-16 years) and the male 4x200m freestyle (14-16 years).

East Lothian Courier: Stefan Krawiec, Calum Peebles, Zach Slater and Ethan Mulligan achieved an impressive silver medal in the 4x100m freestyleStefan Krawiec, Calum Peebles, Zach Slater and Ethan Mulligan achieved an impressive silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle

Jamie Ward, ELST head coach, was delighted with the team and their performance.

He said: “It has been an amazing week of racing, with lots of great performances throughout the team and more than a few emotional moments too.

“This meet is one of the most important events in our calendar and for a club of our size to finish within the top-three teams in Scotland for the third year in a row is remarkable.

“We continue to grow our reputation as one of the country’s top swim teams, and our consistency highlights the exciting pathway of young talent coming through from Haddington, Musselburgh and Tranent Amateur Swimming Clubs.

“I am immensely proud of our swimmers, my fellow coaches, and all those involved with the club behind the scenes.

“This achievement is a testament to their hard work and dedication throughout the year.”