MASTERS swimmers at Harlow Penguins Swimming Club are celebrating an impressive haul of 18 medals at the recent Essex County Masters Championships in Basildon. Despite fielding just five swimmers, the club was placed ninth overall which was a significant achievement.

Siobhan Perrin took gold in the 45-49 category in 50m backstroke and 100m breaststroke, silver in 100m freestyle, 100m Individual Medley and 50m breaststroke, plus bronze in 50m free. Speaking afterwards she commented: “Huge thanks go to the coaching team; the training is certainly paying off! It’s even harder to achieve personal bests the older you get, but proof is in the pudding and we are achieving”.

Swimming in the 50-54 category, Craig Banning picked up six medals: gold in 50m backstroke and 100m Individual medley, plus silvers in 50m breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle and 100m breaststroke. Alex Smith (40-44) won bronze in 200m freestyle and was placed fifth in 50m free and 100m IM.

Louise Kedge (35-39) took bronze in 100m breaststroke and placed 6th in 100m free and IM, 50m free and 200m free. The club’s youngest participant was Ethan Peirce swimming in the 18-24 age category, who won gold in 50m breaststroke and bronze in 50m fly and free plus 200m free.