The medals kept flooding in on the 3rd weekend of the Kent County Championships. Only the strong squad of Beckenham grabbed more club points, and Canterbury swimmers have found themselves once again well placed in the final Bagcat point's totals. It's a great pat on the back, and proves how good our swimmers are, individually and as a squad. Throughout the competition, even when ill, the swimmers have trained hard, swum hard and gained their rewards for determination, skill and talent.

Results to follow

With the competition back yet again at the Black Lion, Gillingham, the Saturday morning session began well with a win and gold medal for Stephanie Chaplin 17/18yr in the 400m IM. In the same race Sophie Tomlin 14yr continued her fine form by powering to a silver medal and in the same age group Catherine Lough and Louise Smith came in 4th and 5th respectively. Same race but different age group brought more success for the 15yr olds. Emma Drabble, Francesca Beale and Clair Robinson coming home in 4th, 5th and 6th. Not to be left out Emma Stanley swam into a 4th placing in the 16yr category.

Josh Maley then added to his extensive medal collection by swimming into silver position in the men's 200m breaststroke. It was then time for our younger girls to shine, with silvers for Bethany Seaman (10yr) and Holly Ralfe (12yr) in the 200m freestyle. Bronzes were won by Elizabeth Wells's 11yr and Helen Robinson (13yr) as well as a 4th for Caroline Robinson (11yr). It had proved to be more of the same for Canterbury swimmers so far in the session. Success didn't stop there, with Louise Smith (14yr) and Stephanie Chaplin (17/18) bringing yet more silverware in the 50m breaststroke and with Francecsca Beale (15yr) grabbing 6th, the medal, and points tally just kept on rising.

Next it was the boy's turn to prove themselves in the 200m backstroke. Approximately 60 minutes later Canterbury had 7 more medals to add to the collection. Aleks krunic (13yr) winning gold, 4th placing for Ben Walsh (12yr) and Luke Smith (14yr) 5th, for Jacob Gainey (13yr) and 6th places for Ryan Powell, Ben Watson and Michael Stanley.

The final race of the morning was the men's 100m IM and Josh Maley went two better than in the heats to win the final, another gold to the collection and a perfect way to round of the session.

The afternoon session begins with Michael Stanley (14yr) getting a fourth place in the 100m breaststroke. Then Erin Walsh produces a big Pb to win the 9yr old 200m girls IM. Caroline Robinson and Holly Ralfe win silvers, Elizabeth Wells and Helen Robinson grab 4th and Becky Everest and Bethany Seaman swam into 6th place.

Continuing on with more success the older girls then produce excellent breastroke swims with the Louise Smith and Stephanie Chaplin gaining 2 more silvers, Francesca Beale and Emma Stanley 4th placing and Catherine Lough a 6th place in the 100m race event. Karl Botha and Angus Hewett both 15, then bring in a 4th and 5th place in the 100m Freestyle, while Holly Ralfe and Helen Robinson compete in the 50m backstroke, wining a gold and 5th place respectively.

So after a competition spanning over nearly a month the final day has arrived.

As if the swimmers haven't endured enough, we're straight in to the men's 200m fly, an event not for the faint hearted. Karl Botha showing excellent technique powers into a silver medal finished, with Sam Giffen 5th . Erin Walsh produces another event best time to win the 9yr old 200m breaststroke, Sophia Krunic swims a big pb to win the 10yr old event, Caroline Robinson then completes a hattrick of girls wins in the 11yr olds and Elizabeth Wells also swims a big pb to get 4th . Aleks Krunic (13yr) and obviously inspired by his sister's win then swims brilliantly to take the gold in the 400m IM, and Michael Stanley's not far behind in gaining silver in the 14yr category

With the girls lined up for the 200m freestyle Natalie Shilling shows how it's done, and wins gold in the 17/18 age group. 4th goes to Louise Smith (14yr) and Emma Harris (15yr), 5th place for Emma Stanley (16yr) and 6th place for Sophie Tomlin (14yr) and Emma Drabble (15yr).

Helen Robison, continuing to show brilliant fly technique to win the 100m 13yr age, with her sister Caroline 11yr 4th and Danielle Ingleston 6th . Continuing the family tradition in the final session of competition Claire Robinson competes in the 200m fly for girls to win bronze in the 15yr age group. In the overall 16yrs and under Helen Robinson swims into bronze place. Aleks Krunic shows no let up in form or determination to beat the opposition in the 13yr old 200m IM to win yet another gold. Michael Stanley again gets silver and Guy Hewett wins a bronze. In the younger age groups Michael Lindsey gets 5th and Louis Moore and Ryan Powell get 6th place.

Coming to the last few races Canterbury swimmers show no let up in their desire for medals and Karl Botha raps up a great personal championship by powering home in the 100m freestyle to win gold in the 15yr age group. Kevin Chui and Josh Maley end the day with more medals, both finishing 5 h in their age groups. In the women's 50m freestyle there still time for spectacular swims and Catherine Lough doesn't disappoint, producing a stunning 50m freestyle to qualify for her first National time and grab 5th in an extremely combative event. Emma Drabble also swam well to get 2nd place in the 15 yr age, as did Emma Stanley and Louise Smith, getting 4th and 6th respectively. Even then Canterbury swimmers weren't done and Michael Stanley 3rd , Guy Hewett 5th and Aleks Krunic still had time to bring home 3 more medals to Canterbury Swimming Clubs massive collection.