62 talented youngsters from Hythe Aqua’s Learn to swim section took part in the Tom Palmer Swimming Awards on Thursday.  For many it was their first taste of competition and all completed their races in smooth, competent style. 
There were smiles all round when the first teaching group took to the water for their first ever taste at racing.  Freya Ling was crowned champion of the Tom Palmer Novice award when she swam one width of the swimming pool in the speedy time of 17.37.  Freya was closely followed by Ellen Rose in 17.88 and Chloe Newland in 17.97.  In the boy’s race, Thomas Kedwell beat the rest of the pack to the finish in a time of 13.20, with Leon Santer and Cheyney Marsh close behind in 13.81 and 14.72 respectively.

The Lions award was for widths swimmers who had to swim 25m length.  For many this would have been their first time swimming a whole length of the pool.  In the girls Jessica Wills cruised to victory in a time of 29.09, followed by Lola Santer 31.28 and Naomi Dupre 33.15.  In the boys Jack Duncombe won in 28.72, with Matthew Chegwin coming in 2nd in 29.44, followed by Isaac McDonald in 32.06.

The Pennymarsh Award was swam by swimmers in the lengths groups.  Ellice Staerck swam a convincing length finishing 1st in 24.41.  Maddie Orman came in 2nd in 24.58 and Maisie Dryland 3rd in 25.39.   Ben Hart won the boys in 21.59, followed by George Budd, 22.53 and Marley Chan, 23.06.

The last event of the evening was the Seabrook Award swam by swimmers in the Intermediate lengths group.  Kim Couchman-Sawyer reached the wall first in 18.09, with Gemma Marsh and Lauren Dennis close behind, in times of 19.75 and 20.28 respectively.  John Hill won the boys with the fastest length of the evening in a time of 16.84, with Thomas Matthews and Joe O’Callaghan taking 2nd and 3rd in times of 19.28 and 19.87, respectively.