Samuel Competes In ESSA 72nd Inter-Divisional Championships

Published by Culford School on Tuesday 28th of March 2023

The English Schools Swimming Association held their 72nd Inter-Divisional Championship meet in Coventry over 11 and 12 March. Upper Third pupil Samuel was selected to represent ESSA East, consisting of the best swimmers from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Norfolk, with swimmers selected based on their national rankings.

This was a great learning opportunity for Samuel to compete in a new competition venue, with new team mates and support staff over the weekend, where he came away with some excellent performances.

In the 100m freestyle, Samuel finished in fourth position, narrowly missing out on the bronze medal, with a new 3-second long course personal best (PB). Samuel also competed in the 200m freestyle event, where he again finished in fourth place, setting a new best time by 3.5 seconds. Showing his versatility across all four strokes, and continuing the run of fourth places, Samuel completed the 200m individual medley with a fantastic 7 second PB.

In the relay events, Samuel joined forces with three other new team mates, competing in both the junior 4 x 100 medley relay (where Samuel swam the Freestyle leg), the junior 4 x 100 freestyle relay and then, with five new members, competed in the open squadron 6 x 50m freestyle relay.

Well done to Samuel on his achievements in this national competition, competing with and against some of the best swimmers from around the country.