The Kimberley School Newsletter December 2015 | Page 8

Physical Education News

Kimberley very proud of its
swimmers once again!
Following regional qualification (30
schools out of 150) of the Junior Boys
Medley Relay and Freestyle Relay,
the boys attended the London
Aquatics Centre to compete in the
National Finals qualification and to,
hopefully, reach the finals held later
the same day.
In the first event, the medley relay,
the boys came second in their heat
and reached the final having qualified
fourth quickest, in a time of 2:12.78.
Eleven heats later and the boys were
now racing in the final and this was
very closely fought. The eventual
winners, Millfield, won the final in a
new record time, with the boys from
Kimberley just being beaten and
missing out on a medal and third
place with a time of 2:11.88, missing
out by 0.25. This year’s competition
was even tougher than last year for
the same age group, as the time
achieved by our boys would have
actually seen them placed second.
In the second event, the freestyle relay,
the boys although disappointed from

the medley final, picked themselves
up and again competed in one of
three qualifying heats. This was a little
bit of a muted swim and, after a short
wait, the boys realised that they had learning curve in the boys’ sport and
qualified for the final in tenth place in was a great sense of achievement.
As this was the first time that The
a time of 2:03.51.
Kimberley School had qualified for
The boys then got together and with this event, the boys then made the
lots of encouragement from each final, eventually finishing sixth in an
other and a team discussion on tactics, improved time of 2:01.59. It showed
they threw caution to the wind and true character, strength, positivity,
went into the final with a plan of great team work and above all a team
action to give themselves their best who the school should be very proud
opportunity in the final. From the start of, as throughout the day the boys acof this final the boys put themselves quitted themselves and represented
into a great position and were right up the school in a great manner.
there with the leaders, possibly even
leading the race at some point them- Who knows what next year may
selves. I do believe they even scared bring as, should the school enter this
a number of the teams they were event again, there are a lot of strong
swimmers coming through and also
competing against.
coming up to the school. I wouldn’t
From start to finish the boys fought be surprised to see junior girls qualify
every stroke and it wasn’t until the last and even be the first to get a medal
ten metres that the stronger teams next year, hopefully followed closely
powered through and denied them a by the intermediate boys.
medal position again. However, this
David Kingsland
race came across as a tremendous
(a very proud dad)