Superb October for Kingfishers Swimming club stars of all ages
![The Kingfisher Swimming Club 14 years + which shone at the Winter Yorkshire County Championships.](https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmFiMDgyZTk0LWMzNTAtNGUwMS1iYjMwLWIxNGIyNzNkMTU2YjplYjAwOTQ5YS05NDhmLTQzMzgtYjg3MC1iMTYxYmMwODQwZTc=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![The Kingfisher Swimming Club 14 years + which shone at the Winter Yorkshire County Championships.](/img/placeholder.png)
A fantastic team effort on Saturday October 5, saw the club's team win the Scarborough District Swimming Association Ridings League.
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Hide AdClub Chair Kath Minghella hailed this a fantastic achievement, saying: “Kingfishers is a family friendly club that not only develops skills in the pool but personal skills that our members can use anywhere. This result epitomises the great team ethos we have.”
Sunday October 6 saw Kingfishers volunteers officiating at the Special Olympics gala held by Scarborough Disabled Swimming Group and Everyone Active.
![The Kingfisher SC Club Captains from the 2024 Ridings Gala](https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmE3OTE2ZDU0LWI2NTctNDQ1Zi05OTFjLTI2MDdiOWRlNTk5NjowNzhlOTZlYi0wMDhiLTRjMTYtODQ3MS1hYjQwM2U3OTk0Njc=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
![The Kingfisher SC Club Captains from the 2024 Ridings Gala](/img/placeholder.png)
This was followed by two successful competition weekends starting with a brilliant weekend in Leeds at the Yorkshire Championships with the aged 13+ swimmers. Ten swimmers gained personal best times and top 10 finishes.
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Hide AdAfter attending the meet, Head Coach Zoe Naylor said: “I was super impressed by our team's maturity and approach to their races - focused, mentally ready and so supportive of each other which built confidence across the team with hurdles overcome together.
"Swimming, as with life, has its ups and downs but when you know you have a team of friends and family supporting you it makes the tough times so much easier.”
Kingfishers Masters swimmer Aaron Gilson competed in Luxembourg at the Lux Masters Open with a pretty impressive medal haul; a gold in his 100 metres breaststroke, and a bronze in his 100 metres freestyle.
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Hide Ad![The Kingfisher SC team 9-13yrs impressed at the Winter Yorkshire County Championships.](https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg2Yzg2YjQ0LWUzYWQtNDZkZi1iOWY5LTMwMDliOTNkMjdiNzpmY2YwZDE2Yy1kMmZlLTQyYTMtYTY2YS1iZTlkZDBlMTk1Njk=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
![The Kingfisher SC team 9-13yrs impressed at the Winter Yorkshire County Championships.](/img/placeholder.png)
Saturday October 19 and Sunday 20 saw Kingfishers SC travel to Ponds Forge in Sheffield for the Yorkshire SA lower age group Winter Meet [age 9-12].
Kingfishers had 19 swimmers qualified for the meet, taking their total number of Yorkshire qualifiers to 29 including the upper age [13+] swimmers who had competed earlier in the month.
Many of the Kingfishers swimmers took part in the County Championships for the first time, and the sense of focus, determination and above all team spirit really shone through.
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Hide AdCoach Tom Wilkinson said: “The swimmers supported each other in true Kingfishers spirit and left the weekend with smiles all round! The maturity of the swimmers in terms of race preparation, planning and execution was clear to see, working with and listening to their coaches to progress through their racing.
"We are proud of every swimmer that trained so hard to qualify for the Yorkshires, you showcased the talent within our club, well done!”
Across the weekend the Kingfishers swimmers achieved some simply fantastic results; 29 top 20 finishes, six of these were top 10s and an absolutely brilliant swim from George Bisby-Owen earning him a silver medal in the 10years 100m backstroke.
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Hide AdKingfishers have 47 qualifying times for the North Eastern region meets from 14 swimmers starting November 2.
Back in their home pool at Scarborough Sports Village, October 23, saw 72 swimmers from entry development to performance potential taking part in a badge night. Longstanding club volunteers Paula Ambury and Nicola Bailey organised the successful evening.
Kingfishers SC is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers. Anyone interested in joining as a swimmer or volunteer can contact [email protected]