Local swimming stars make a splash on the National Stage

Local swimming stars make a splash on the national stage:

Witney Swimming Club is celebrating an incredible summer after 11 of its swimmers competed at national championships, achieving outstanding results against the very best athletes in the country.

For a club of Witney's size, having 11 swimmers qualify for national competition is a remarkable achievement. The team not only earned their place among the nation's top swimmers but also delivered a series of exceptional performances, reaching finals and claiming multiple national medals.

Many of the swimmers are also supported through the GLL Sport Foundation, demonstrating the impact that local support and investment can have in helping talented athletes reach their full potential.

Competing with Britain's best:

Six Witney swimmers qualified for the prestigious Aquatics GB Next Gen National Championships, which brings together the top 24 swimmers in each age group and event across Great Britain.

Among the standout performances were:

Annaliese Elford, who reached the finals of the 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke.
Mason Amiri, who reached five finals across Backstroke and Breaststroke events.
Yasmin Amiri, who qualified for the 100m Breaststroke final.
Hattie Lever, Ayan Varia and Grace Clear, who all secured top-10 finishes in their respective age groups.

National medals for Witney swimmers:

The club also enjoyed tremendous success at the English and Welsh Summer National Championships, where 10 Witney swimmers represented the club.
The medal-winning performances included:

Mason Amiri - Gold Medal, 400m Individual Medley
Yasmin Amiri - Gold Medal, 200m Breaststroke
Yasmin Amiri - Bronze Medal, 200m Individual Medley
Annaliese Elford - Bronze Medal, 400m Individual Medley
Ava Keepa - Silver Medal, 200m Breaststroke

Several other swimmers also reached national finals, including Ella Green, Emma Franklin, and Bella Tillson, underlining the depth of talent within the Witney squad.

Success close to home:

The achievements are especially meaningful for the Better leisure centres in Oxfordshire, as several of the swimmers are also part of the Better family.
Annaliese Elford works as a Swim Teacher at Carterton and Windrush Leisure Centres, while Hattie Lever has recently completed her swim teacher qualification and will soon be joining the GLL teaching team. Grace Clear also teaches swimming within South Oxfordshire.

Their success provides inspiration to young swimmers across the region and demonstrates the pathway available from learning to swim through to competing at the highest levels of the sport.

We are delighted to be alongside the Windrush Leisure Centre the training home of The Witney & District Swimming Club.