BECKENHAM Swimming Club enjoyed a successful weekend at the London region youth championships at Crystal Palace.

As well as delivering a crop of good individual performances, five of Beckenham’s relay teams qualified for the national swimming championships in Sheffield later this summer.

The women’s open 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle teams secured a place in the championships, as did the men’s open 4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley relay teams.

Beckenham SC head coach Tony Beckley was delighted by the success and hopes even more club members will qualify before the July 1 youths deadline.

He said: “With the relay teams we will be taking about 14 swimmers to Sheffield and the number may increase yet.

“I am really pleased with what they have achieved through hard work.”

Beckley has high hopes for some of the younger relay teams, who will be competing at Crystal Palace in the London region bagcat championships early next month.

The recent success follows a busy few months for the club, including its participation in the Arena national league finals in Cardiff last month where Beckenham punched way above its weight and achieved some very commendable results.

Beckley also took six swimmers to Leeds in March for the British international open championships, at which Lauren Walton, 17, and Luke Gunning, 15, were selected for international honours.

Walton, 17, from Sidcup, is representing GB in the 10k open water event in Portugal on Saturday, while Luke Gunning is set to represent his country in July’s European youth olympics in Utrecht.

Meanwhile, Walton and fellow Beckenham SC members Michael Gunning, 19, from Petts Wood, and Kunmi Ogunfeibo, 15, have qualified for the British championships, which is the trials for world championships.

For more information on Beckenham SC, or to join, visit beckenhamswimmingclub.com

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