20 June 12
Holly Rowlinson (AG1) and Elysia Zdolyny (D1), Trafford Metro Swimmers, were delighted to win 2 silver medals at the ESSA National Primary School Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge International Pool in Sheffield on Saturday 16th June 2012.
The girls were representing the North West of England along with 2 of their class mates from Forest School in Timperley, Kavya Mahadev and Chris Schofield. They had qualified for the championships at a Regional Competition held in Manchester, Liverpool and the Isle of Man having come 2nd in the Medley relay and 3rd in the Freestyle Relay.
Holly and Elysia’s team competed in 2 events in the Sheffield finals: the 4 x 25 metre Medley Relay and the 4 x 25 Freestyle Relay. The competition involved 24 teams for each event who had qualified from their respective Regional Competitions.
Holly swam the breaststroke and Elysia the backstroke in the Medley Relay and their team came first in their heat with a time of 1.07:10. In the Freestyle Relay Elysia swam the first leg and Holly the final one and again their team came first in their heat with a time of 1.02:56.
The Forest School team went on to improve their times in the actual ‘A’ Final with a Medley Relay time of 1.06:71 and a Freestyle Relay time of 1.02:12. They were only beaten by a fellow North West Team who broke the championship record in both events. They are the first school in Trafford to achieve this success in this competition.
Holly, Elysia and their team members were presented medals and plaques by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield after singing the national anthem!! Unfortunately Prince William, the Patron of ESSA, was unable to attend on the day but provided a welcome address!
Former Trafford Metro Coaches Aneta Malaj and Hannah Dixon helped Forest School prepare the team for the Championships and to improve their times by 6 seconds in both events! So overall a great team effort and achievement for Trafford Metro.
