A TEAM from Mount Kelly has set a new national record at the 2015 English Schools’ National Relay Championships — with the school’s 12 teams performing strongly throughout the event.

Mount Kelly travelled to the London Aquatic Centre on Saturday November 21 to go into battle at the championships. For the first time in many years all 12 Mount Kelly teams had qualified for the national relay finals, and having taken victory in the senior boys’ medley relay last year, the Mount Kelly team were determined to take another title.

The day started well with the junior teams taking a fifth and sixth position in the first set of finals. The senior girls freestyle team of Gabi Weaver, Emily Cutler, Leah Picillo and Megan Bowen then stepped up to claim a silver medal.

This was quickly followed by the senior boys’ medley team consisting of Ben Staig, Michael Alcorn, Reiss Ormonde-Cunninghman and Harry Turner taking a bronze medal. 

Next up was the intermediate girls’ freestyle relay where the Mount Kelly team had qualified in first position. In the final, Lauren Hession got the team off to a great start, backed up by some great splits by Anna Cutts and Tegan Lessey. Going in to the final 50 metres Mount Kelly were just behind Millfield School but a huge final effort from Kaylee Dekker saw her overhaul the Millfield swimmer in the final 25 metres to take victory —making them national champions in a new national record.

The intermediate boys’ medley team of Jacob Newcombe, Ollie Taverner, Jacob Gibbons and Eddie Maddocks then claimed a bronze in a very tight final. This team, strengthened by Jack Hutchin and Tom Brew, went on to win an additional bronze in the freestyle relay.

The final medal was won by Dani Baker, Jade Stocker, Megan Bowen and Leah Picillo in the senior girls’ medley relay where they claimed another silver medal. This took the Mount Kelly total to six podium finishes which was a great result for the school. 

It is now just four weeks until the ASA National Short Course Championships which are being held in Sheffield. Mount Kelly have 17 swimmers qualified to compete at this competition where they will look to produce more great results.