Synchronised Swimming Championships

Thomas Telford School hosted the 30th Annual National Synchronised Swimming Championships on Saturday 15 May. Over 100 spectators turned out to watch schools from all over the country compete for the title of National Champions. The swimmers competed in both the Duet and Combination Team events. Less experienced teams also took part in a National Plate competition.

In the Championship competition, the Thomas Telford School team impressed the judges with their original routine depicting the rides from Alton Towers. With incredible height achieved on their acrobatic lifts in the water and excellent synchronicity displayed, the girls won the title with a total score of 59.667. Bradford Girls’ Grammar School finished second with 58.333 and Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls, Elstree were third with 57.166 points.

Thomas Telford teams are coached by former British Champion and international medallist Zoe Cooper and International Masters medallist Sarah Jones who took over coaching the squad four years ago. Since then, the Championship team has improved from 12th in the country to 4th, 3rd, 2nd and now, this year in Gold medal position, they have beaten the ten times national champion team from Haberdashers’ Aske’ School.

Zoe and Sarah said: ‘We are so proud of the girls, their commitment and drive to training over the last four years has been exceptional. Our aim as coaches was to achieve this prestigious title and we knew it would take a number of years to get there, so the feeling of finally achieving this goal is unbelievable’.

The competition introduced a Plate category aimed at less experienced schools and swimmers new to the sport. Thomas Telford entered a full team of ten and duet in this section. The girls are mainly in Year 7s and 8 and have only been participating in the sport for a year during after school sessions. On Saturday the swimmers really gelled together as a team to perform a high energy routine to a medley of Michael Jackson songs. Thomas Telford won the event finishing on 55.667, a huge two point lead ahead of Hipperholme & Lightcliffe High School, Halifax with 53.834 points.

Steve Plant, Team Manager said, “When the results came in, we couldn’t believe it. It surpasses everything we could have dreamt of. The girls were ecstatic! To hold a National title is an honour but to have two is amazing, it’s still sinking in!”

On Saturday 19 June, Thomas Telford School will be the venue for British Masters Synchronised Swimming Championships in which Zoe and Sarah will be competing. It looks set to be another exciting event and spectators will be welcome!