Titan Quintet To The Fore In Top European Meet

Five members of the Ellesmere College Titans Swimming Club were called up for the West Midlands ASA for a top meet in Luxembourg. Llawen Rossell-Smith, Chloe Golding, Olivia Gardner, Murrin Dalrymple and Callum Nortje were all receiving their first international call.

The Luxembourg Euro meet is in its 16th year and attracts teams from all over Europe. The meet began with the long distance events where in the 800m Gardner, a member of the England Talent programme came in eighth in 9:18.65. Club mate Daltymple finished 13th in 9:27.90. Golding then recorded 5:07.97 in the 400m Individual Medley (IM). Nortje, Ellesmere's sole representative in the boys' section, impressed in the 200m Butterfly coming home in sixth place in the final with 2:08.68.

Gardner set the meet going on the second day in the 200m free, recording 2:10.88 with Golding going well in the 100m backstroke to earn fourth place. Breaststroker Rossell-Smith now in her fourth year of being a member of the Welsh Development Squad swam superbly in the 200m Breaststroke to make the open finals, coming 16th. The Ellesmere girls were in action once again in the 200m IM with Golding coming ninth, with Gardner and Dalrymple again impressing.

On the last session of the second day in the 200m IM Golding cam ninth with Gardner and Dalrymple recording 2:31.99 and 2:32.43 respectively. For the boys Nortje continued in style heading the West Midlands team by coming 13th in 2:13.64. Rossell-Smith was immediately in action on the third day coming in 18th in the 100m Breaststroke from the 82 competitors in 1:51.41, again making the finals. In the 100m freestyle Dalrymple recorded a new long course PB with 1:02.81 she had to swim soon afterwards in the 400m free, coming in 18th with Gardner one place ahead.