A small group of GBM swimmers and parents braved the 4 hour journey up to Leeds for this Level 1 Meet just days before Christmas (it provided a good excuse if something was forgotten on Christmas Day!). A number of the GB Olympic swimmers were competing at the Meet (Liam Tancock, Lizzie Simmons, David Davis, Ian Hulme and Rebecca Adlington) and some of the well known British swimmers were also there and it was a privilege for both the swimmers and their parents to watch them in action. Some of the “Stars” even took the time to sign autographs and “high-five” swimmers as they passed by which has no doubt ensured their fan base for the next few years!

That aside, the serious business of swimming and attaining PBs was tackled. Almost every swim produced PB’s and also the following achievements:

Michael Gregory achieved National Long Course Qualifying Times in the 50m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 100m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle & 200m IM. In addition, he was invited to swim in the 50m Backstroke Skins event (a knock out competition – 7 rounds swum and in each round the slowest is knocked out until the ultimate winner is declared) competing against Liam Tancock, Matthew Bowe, Scott Hathaway, Darren Ward, Joe Canlan-Shaw, Grant Turner and James Lovatt. Michael was “eliminated” after the third round – an excellent achievement for the youngest competitor in the skins and definitely an experience to treasure.

Joan Tello Alvarez won a Gold medal in the 13 years old age group for 200m Breaststroke and a Silver medal in the 100m Breaststroke.

It was a great weekend and hopefully this will be a Meet that GBM will put in the annual gala schedule.

Also Competing for GBM was: Fearn Cook, Grace de Rome, Ben Duxbury, Max Kong, Laura Porritt and Holly Wylie

A small group of GBM swimmers made their way down to Aldershot for this gala and all swam exceptionally well achieving PB’s in virtually every race. The following were placed:

Also Competing for GBM was: Ben Duxbury, Nick Duxbury, Grace de Rome, Edgars Haruns, Max Kong, Neema Nyaulingo, Natasha Sinha and Lily Wylie

A group of approximately 20 swimmers represented GBM at this gala and all swam very well gaining 47 Top Six placings and a significant number of PB’s. This resulted in GBM being placed 2nd in the Club Rankings.

Many congratulations to Holly Wylie who won Top Girl Swimmer of the Meet and also congratulations to all the swimmers.

Also Competing for GBM was: Amaia del Rio Foces, Johanna Mandel and Emma Presley

Joshua Ling was the sole representative of GBM in the Bexley Junior and Sprint Meet at Crook Log on Saturday 4th October 2008.

He came 1st in the 100m Backstroke with a PB time, 3rd in 100m Freestyle and 100m IM (another PB), and 4th in the 100m Breastroke all in the 12/13 (Junior) age group.

Dervis Konuralp swam in the S13 class of the Paralympics in Beijing in the following events:

Many congratulations Dervis

A number of GBM swimmers represented GBM at this 25m sprint gala for 9 - 13 year olds at Downham Leisure Centre. The swimmers really put their hearts into it and achieved some good results. The Club also gained 2nd Best Club in the competition.

Future Champion for the Boys (12 years) was Joan Tello Alvarez who was place 1st in all four strokes. Joan has won this accolade in the previous two years as both an 10 year and 11 year old

Many congratulations to all the swimmers.

Also Competing for GBM was: Matthew Bibby, Sam Debney, Reanne Jones, Emma Presley, Joshua Salama, Sabrina Sinha, Mollie Stevens and Alicia Woodward

On Saturday 6th August 4 members of GBM took part in the Clash of the Tritons Aquathlon held by Greenwich Tritons Triathlon Club at Eltham College.

Nick Duxbury, Hannah Jones, Joshua Ling and Sophie Parkes all swam 250m, raced to the transition area where they put on their shoes and racing numbers, then it was straight off round the school field for a 2km run.

Joshua won the Under 14's boys event and Sophie came 3rd in the Under 14's girls. Well done to Hannah and Nick who took part in this event for the first time.

A number of GBM swimmers competed in this Open Meet and several achieved PB’s and the following results:

Also Competing for GBM was: Grace de Rome, Richard de Rome, Ben Duxbury, Nick Duxbury, Michael Kenny, Sophie Presley and Natasha Sinha

Report by Head Coach Gil Levy

After the previous week's competition in Hatfield I was tentative about the performances of the swimmers in this past weekend's Black Lion Open meet. As expected the swimmers and their bodies are taking time to adapt to my style of training and the type of programs I set to develop the squad further. The first group of galas that we are participating in serve as means for me to learn about you as much as for you to learn about me. I've learned a lot over the last 2 weekends and am developing a picture of what needs to be done and areas we need to develop and improve on since watching the performances. In saying that some exciting races were swum with some magnificent PB's ranging from between 0.1 - 8.5 seconds

Saturday morning began with some hesitation and nervous attempts but after a serious talk and a closer analogy on how to tackle the different events, the swimmers looked bolder and more "up for it." Leanne Hennessy tried the new approach of going out in the first half of the race uncomfortably faster than normal and then digging in to finish the 2nd half of the race fighting off the burn and ache in her legs, arms and lungs, the result - 2 magnificent Pb's and medals to match.

Kevin arrived to everyone’s delight on Sunday afternoon and really lifted the team. The swimmers relished the opportunity to compete in front of him and raised their game. Josh Pemberton-Hill came agonizingly close - but for the turn - to National Qualifying time on the 50m Freestyle and giving him Silver whilst Dylan Pratt McCullagh had swum a superb 50m split on the 100m Fly with only a little bit of fitness letting him down in the final length of the race yet managing to hold on to the Bronze Medal.

Laura Porritt swam in the 100 Fly although the 200m is her specialty. She went out tentatively and left too much to do towards the end but still took the Silver medal - she looked comfortable swimming at a 200m pace and when we replicate this swim over the longer distance - then a National Qualifying Time next season is on the cards.

As the swimmers' times began dropping - 22 PB's with both Dylan and Josh improving on their swims from the previous week in Hatfield - so did the medals start to come in and GBM amassed 6 top six places. The gala organizers had joined the 11 and 12 age groups and had the 11 year olds swum independently in their own age group, I feel Natasha would have brought in a few medals of her own.

I was delighted by the guts and determination shown by Grace de Rome and Natasha Sinha in opting to compete in time-trial events that they've never done before whilst posting some excellent times as well as Richard de Rome who after slipping and catching his hip bone on the corner of a platform bravely decided to carry on in the gala and swam in the 50m Breaststroke a few minutes later. More courage was on display by Nick Duxbury in competing in the Breaststroke event and then later on - through an organizational mistake on the part of the hosts - was forced to swim in a backstroke heat against boys up to 15 seconds faster than his own PB time.

Thisattitude - the courage and determination and commitment to try new things and “guts them out no matter what the outcome” - is the first step to becoming a champion. Well done to all the swimmers who represented GBM - Michael Kenny, Sophie Presley, Ben Duxbury, Grace de Rome, Natasha Sinha, Richard de Rome, Nick Duxbury, Leanne Hennessy, Josh Pemberton-Hill , Laura Porritt, Dylan Pratt McCullagh - I'm really proud of you.

"Longer, Stronger, Harder, Further, Faster - because you CAN!"

Emma Presley swam for the Babington House School team which won 4th place in the Small Schools Freestyle Relay in this Championship. Emma also competed in the Small Schools Mixed Relay and in the 50m Backstroke event.

Laura Bruce, Gabriella Drew, Ellen Morrison, Natasha Sinha, Sabrina Sinha and Georgette Valentine Hosein represented Blackheath High at this event. Hannah Jones was also at this event representing her school Bromley High.

There were 23 schools from all over the country, from as far away as Newcastle, Ipswich and Portsmouth and some of the schools had established swim teams which resulted in a very high standard.

Blackheath High has neither a pool or swim team and Sabrina and Georgette were the youngest competitors there with most girls 2-3 years older. As Blackheath High did not have a team kit, the girls swam with their GBM hats on to give them a team identity even sharing their hats with a swimmer from another Club!

Congratulations to Hannah Jones who came second in the Breaststroke and Natasha Sinha who came first in the backstroke, sixth in the freestyle and seventh in the butterfly.

Well done to all the girls - you were great ambassadors for the club as well as for your school.

A small group of GBM swimmers attended this gala and achieved a number of PB's and the following results:

Also Competing for GBM was: Grace de Rome, Hannah Jones and Natasha Sinha

The following results were achieved at this meet

Also Competing for GBM was: Shane Hume, Hannah Jones, Michael Kenny, Danielle McCabe, Sophie Parkes, Josh Pemberton Hill, Dylan Pratt McCullagh and Dan Wood

Report by Coach Bob Blake

I would like to congratulate all the swimmers who represented GBM at the Desmond Stynes Gala at Trinity School.  It was a very enjoyable event.

I, as a coach, cannot remember a gala when we came first place in most of the races but finished in last place at the end of the evening. This was due to most of our team swimming too fast in the events and receiving a ‘speeding ticket’.

Most of our team gained personal best times or came very close to achieving them, many swimmers also swam on their weaker strokes.

I would like to thank parents for their support and everyone who helped on poolside to make this a very enjoyable gala for all our swimmers and spectators.

Representing GBM at this gala was: Henry Bowers, Laura Bruce, Joshua Brewster, Luke Brewster, Sam Cameron, Grace de Rome, Rebecca de Rome, Richard de Rome, Amaia del Rio Foces, Ellen Dunbar, Ben Duxbury, Nick Duxbury, Joshua Haynes, Fiona Hennessy, Leanne Hennessy, Hannah Jones, Anthony Noonan, Katie Pearlgood, Boru Pratt Mccullagh, Oriel Pratt McCullagh, Chanel Robinson, Andreas Sampson Geroski, Joe Simmons, Dymtro Starukh, Ben Sulch, Jake Sulch, Georgette Valentine Hosein and Karen Whyte

This meet took place in Canterbury and several GBM participated in their first meet of the New Year.

The results are as follows:

Also Competing for GBM was: Emma Johnson, Fiona Hennessy, Leanne Hennessy, Casey Porritt, Natasha Sinha, Josh Pemberton Hill and Daniel Wood