MOUNT Kelly swimmers have once again proven that they are an unbeatable force in the pool after winning the National Arena Swimming League for the second year running.

This competition sees swimming teams and clubs from across England and Wales compete in a series of galas on weekends over several months in all race categories as they vie to clock up as many points as possible in this national competition to win the aquatic crown.

The final gala took place in Cardiff’s Olympic Village at the International Swimming Pool where teams participated in the last set of individual and relay events. The Mount Kelly team, consisting of swimmers aged 11-18, was announced overall winner with a significant total of 359 points. In second place was Millfield, nearly 40 points behind with a total of 320. Mount Kelly secured top three places in 33 of the 42 events at all the league’s galas and won the relay challenge trophy — the combined time from all eight relay events.

Emma Collings-Barnes, director of swimming at Mount Kelly, said: ‘This win has given a great buzz for everyone on the team, especially after all the issues around covid and the lack of racing for so long.

‘I would like to thank all the staff at the school for their support, especially over the last few years, and a special mention to my assistant director of swimming, Greg King-Limb who has run this programme whilst I have been on maternity leave.

‘Thanks to the National League organisers and Arena UK for putting together a superb event and running the League rounds through the year.

‘This competition is so special to win as it involves so many great swimmers and clubs from across the country.’

The Mount Kelly team first won the League in 2020 but the event was cancelled in 2021 due to the ongoing covid restrictions. The league resumed as normal for 2022.

Hazel Ozcan, India Washer, Marcus Heigh, Blythe Kinsman, Abdul Adama, Leah Whittaker, Toby Braine, Alex D’onofrio, Hollie Widdows, Jonathan Turck and Edward Mathieson were eleven individuals from the team who won their respective race categories.

The squad’s relay teams won first place in the 11/12 years mixed freestyle, 11/12 years mixed medley relay, 13/14 years mixed medley and mixed open (16+ years) medley relay events. Including the aforementioned swimmers, these winning relay teams were also comprised of: Christina Angelakis, Caoimhe Dolby, Abduljabar Adama, Constance Logan, Gabrielle Idle-Beavers, Owain Edwards, Fergus Thomson, Lotta Schulze, Felicity Boyle, Jasmine D’Cunha, Calvin Fry, Matthew Ward, Jacob Armon, Arun Oelkers and Erin Little.

Greg King-Limb, assistant director of swimming at Mount Kelly said: ‘Successes like these certainly don’t just happen by accident nor are they a random fluke. We’ve put in ten years of seriously hard work to get to the point we’re currently at; we’re now the lead swimming programme in Great Britain. We have great access to facilities and training programmes. We are immeasurably proud of all of our swimmers - and all of our staff and coaches too. Everyone has done an incredible job.’

Prior to this weekend’s overall win, the team spent January and February competing at the Devon County Championships at the Plymouth Life Centre where they dominated results.

Looking ahead, the swimming team at Mount Kelly have many upcoming events to focus on securing further successes for themselves at in the remaining months of the season. They will be competing at open meets in Plymouth and Edinburgh and their biggest focus will be on the British National Championships, held at Ponds Forge in Sheffield, the home of swimming in Great Britain, beginning in April.