The Dorset Championships concluded over the weekend, and it proved to be another outstanding meet for the Talbot Heath Swimming Academy, with strong performances, impressive statistics and medals across the board.
Across the two days of competition, the squad continued to build momentum, recording 38 personal bests from 53 swims, further improving an already excellent PB conversion rate.
Caidee enjoyed a superb championship, securing her fourth and fifth gold medals with victories in the 400m IM and 100m IM. These results completed a hat-trick of IM golds across the County series. She followed this success with a silver medal in the 200m Freestyle, producing an outstanding seven‑second personal best, before rounding off her programme with an impressive rise from sixth to third place in the 50m Butterfly final.
Carmen also delivered a consistent and medal‑filled meet. She claimed her fourth gold medal of the campaign with victory in the 100m Butterfly, alongside silver medals in the 400m IM (with a remarkable 25‑second personal best), 200m Freestyle and 50m Freestyle. Completing a medal in every event, Carmen added bronze in the 100m Fly.
Continuing her excellent form, Romilly recorded personal bests in all but one event and secured her sixth medal of the championships with a silver medal in the 200m Backstroke.
Blossom, showcasing her trademark strong technique, earned a bronze medal in the 400m IM, also in a personal best time.
There were strong performances throughout the squad, with Coco S and Eliza L both reaching finals in the 50m and 100m Butterfly, while Yasmin T and Florence C made their 50m Freestyle finals in personal best form. In the longer events, Eliza C placed inside the top eight, with eighth in the 200m Backstroke.
The 50m Freestyle proved to be the busiest event of the meet, and the Talbot Heath swimmers rose to the challenge, achieving 15 personal bests from 16 swims. For senior pupils Izzy P, Jess MW and Lottie H, this marked their first Dorset Championships, with all three delivering impressive personal best performances. In the youngest age group, Vera, Isla and Arrabella also produced personal bests, alongside squad‑mates Zaara and Mollie, who set new best times of their own.
Beyond the results, the championships provided valuable learning opportunities, with swimmers developing their race pacing, self‑belief, and, for some, managing rapid periods of growth while achieving post‑puberty personal best times.
A huge thank you goes to all parents who supported on poolside and to the Dorset team for their organisation. There was excellent racing across all teams, making it an enjoyable and memorable competition — and a first appearance at this level for Talbot Heath.
In total, a small squad of 19 swimmers amassed an impressive 32 age‑group medals, including 10 gold medals and an additional 6 junior or senior championship medals. From 105 events swum, 71 resulted in lifetime personal bests, underlining a hugely successful championships for the academy.
A big well done to all of our swimming pupils, coaches and parent volunteers.
