Harwich Secure Promotion After Outstanding Essex League Performance

Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston Swimming Club produced a superb all-round team performance at the latest round of the Essex League, finishing second overall and securing promotion to Division One for the next round of the competition.

The gala saw swimmers deliver an impressive number of personal best performances alongside multiple top three finishes, demonstrating the strength and depth of the club across all age groups.

Leading the way was Emily Turner, who produced a standout swim to win the Open Girls 100m Breaststroke in a personal best time of 1:16.00. The performance not only secured first place but also set a new club record, continuing Emily’s excellent form in her specialist stroke. Emily also played a key role in the Open Girls Medley Relay team, helping secure victory for Harwich.

Another record-breaking performance came from Hugo Arthey, who stormed to victory in the Open Boys 100m Backstroke in a superb personal best time of 1:02.19, setting a new club record in the process. Hugo also claimed second place in the Open Boys 50m Butterfly with another PB swim and contributed to several strong relay finishes for the club.

A particularly outstanding contribution came from Finn Muldoon, who was deservedly named Swimmer of the Gala following two exceptional individual victories. Finn produced a strong personal best of 39.03 to win the 11/U Boys 50m Butterfly before going on to claim another win in the 11/U Boys 50m Breaststroke, again in a lifetime best performance, delivering valuable points for the team.

There were further individual victories for Harwich swimmers, with Luca Hilton claiming first place in the 11/U Boys 50m Freestyle with a new personal best of 35.05.

The club also celebrated numerous podium finishes across the evening. Alex Glover delivered an excellent PB to secure second place in the 13/U Boys 100m Backstroke, while Laurence Wynne-Jones produced a strong personal best to take third place in the 15/U Boys 100m Breaststroke. Autumn Feeley-Headley claimed second place in the 11/U Girls 50m Freestyle with a PB performance, and Amelia Waterman secured third place in the 11/U Girls 50m Butterfly, also in a personal best time.

One of the standout milestone swims of the evening came from Harry Tilley in the Open Boys 100m Freestyle. Harry not only secured second place but also broke the one-minute barrier for the first time, a fantastic achievement and a major personal milestone. In the corresponding Open Girls event, Menna Beegan delivered a personal best performance to take third place. Poppy Tilley also produced a strong PB swim to finish third in the 15/U Girls 100m Freestyle.

The younger age groups also contributed valuable points, with Evelyn Gadsby finishing second in the 13/U Girls 100m Breaststroke and later adding another second place in the 13/U Girls 100m Freestyle. Shaidon Higgon-Williams secured third place in the 13/U Boys 100m Freestyle, while Nancy Garner added another second place finish in the 13/U Girls 50m Butterfly.

Relay events proved a major strength for Harwich throughout the gala. The Open Girls Medley Relay team secured victory, while the 11/U Boys Freestyle Relay team and both the 13/U Boys and 13/U Girls Freestyle Relay teams all delivered excellent second-place finishes. The club also secured runner-up positions in both the Open Girls and Open Boys Freestyle Relays, alongside several other strong relay podium performances across the evening.

The consistent performances across all events saw Harwich finish second overall in the team standings, earning promotion to Division One — a fantastic achievement and reflection of the club’s continued progress and strength across its competitive squads.

Other swimmers who contributed strongly to the team result and delivered a number of personal best performances throughout the evening included Alex Spear, Anna Mortimer, Bailey Hall-Barnett, Beau Johnston, Charlie Roxby-Clarke, Herbie Pickersgill, Jasmine Hall-Barnett, Jemima Garner, Katie Holmes, Lola Ward, Lottie Jobling, Meabh O’Dea, Noah Jobling, Oliver Scrivener, Rosie Hazelton, Tabitha Pickersgill, Thomas Richardson and Willow Feeley-Headley, all of whom played an important role in securing valuable team points across both individual and relay events.

Head Coach Katie Holmes said: “I’m incredibly proud of the whole team. There were personal bests coming from all areas of the squad and it’s brilliant to see the hard work and consistency in training really starting to show in competition. The atmosphere poolside was fantastic, with swimmers supporting each other throughout the evening, and finishing second overall and earning promotion to Division One is a huge achievement for everyone involved.”