The College emerged as the overall winners in the annual District swimming gala held on Thursday 19th January at the College swimming pool. Twelve local schools put forward teams competing throughout the years from Year 7 to Year 11. The standard of swimming was very high and competition in the finals intense. The College finished first in the boys’ section and equal second with Leventhorpe in the girls’ section behind Herts & Essex School, last year’s overall winners. It was perhaps depth to the side that brought victory to the College squad. Alongside individual race-winners, twelve year old Deanne Evans from London and thirteen year old Alex Francey from Old Harlow, the majority of college swimmers reached the finals and many of the relay teams won their events. “They all swam really well and I am very proud of them.” said swimming coach, Ghislaine Chitty, “A special mention must go to one of our fourteen year olds, Stephen Chung, who stepped in at the last moment to fill the position of our national prep school champion, Tom Green. Stephen swam out of his skin to finish second in his race which was a terrific achievement!” 

The winning squad: Tristan Clapp, Stephen Chung, Alex Francey, Ellie Francey, Phil Noone, Mark Thomson, Rachel Green, James Orbart, Roisin Devine, Elanor Cadzow, Katie Taylor, Deanne Evans, Pippa Lane, Tom Firmin, Jordan Tooke, Mark Stubbs, Peter Collins, Ellie Stubbs, Tori Crabb, Grace Stubbs, Abbi Forsyth