Dolphins Shine at Ponds Forge
21 Sep 2021
A pod of 28 swimmers from Clitheroe Dolphinscompeted in the Rotherham Metro A & B Grade Short Course gala held at the prestigious Ponds Forge International Sports Centre on 18 September.
For some of these accomplished swimmers it was a return to competitive swimming after a season disrupted by Covid. For others - some as young as 9 - it was their debut and first time on the starting blocks. Parents and swimmers alike expressed that there was something magical and inspiring about competing at the aquatic stadium, originally built for the 1991 World Student Games.
The Clitheroe Dolphins collectively achieved 46 medals, as well as the trophy for the Top Male swimmer, which was awarded to Archie Lorimer (Gold in Group A, 100m individual medley; 50m breaststroke; 50m & 100m butterfly; 50m & 100m backstroke; 50m & 100m freestyle; Silver Group A, 200m freestyle; Gold Group B, 100m breaststroke).
The Head Coach, Mike Robinson, said that he was incredibly proud of the swimmers’ achievements and personal bests, but mostly of the resilience they have shown in extremely difficult times. Mike was recently recognised by Swim England with the North West’s Inspirational Club Coach Award for 2021 and we are proud to have someone of his calibre invested in helping our local swimmers maximise their individual potential.
No doubt the taste of victory has left them inspired to work even harder to achieve the art of the possible.
Full list of medals:
Event 2 Boys 100m Individual Medley
- Archie Lorimer – Gold, Group A
- Ben Bedford – Silver, Group B
- Owen Donnelly – Bronze, Group A
- Oliver Threlfall – Bronze, Group B
Event 3 Girls 50m Butterfly
- Eva Turner – Silver, Group A
- Martha Smith – Silver, Group B
- Eloise Walmsley – Bronze, Group A
- Elicia Ricioppo – Silver, Group B
- Edith Scanlan – Silver, Group B
- Alice Entwistle – Silver, Group B
- Ella Wright – Bronze, Group B
Event 4 Boys 50m Breaststroke
- Archie Lorimer – Gold, Group A
Event 5 Girls 100m Backstroke
- Layla Newton – Bronze, Group B
Event 6 Boys 100m Butterfly
- Archie Lorimer – Gold, Group A
- Owen Donnelly – Silver, Group B
- Ben Bedford – Bronze, Group B
Event 7 Girls 50m Freestyle
- Martha Smith – Silver, Group A
- Jess Oakley – Gold, Group B
- Emma Jackson – Silver, Group B
- Ella Wright – Bronze, Group B
Event 8 Boys 50m Backstroke
- Archie Lorimer – Gold, Group A
- Owen Donnelly – Bronze, Group A
- Oliver Threlfall – Bronze, Group B
Event 10 Boys 100m Freestyle
- Archie Lorimer – Gold, Group A
- Owen Donnelly – Gold, Group B
Event 11 Girls, 100m Individual Medley
- Eva Turner – Gold, Group B
- Martha Smith – Bronze, Group A
- Alice Entwistle – Bronze, Group B
Event 12 Boys, 200m Freestyle
- Archie Lorimer – Silver, Group A
- Oliver Threlfall – Silver, Group B
- Owen Donnelly – Bronze, Group B
Event 14 Boys 50m Butterfly
- Archie Lorimer – Gold, Group A
- Owen Donnelly – Silver, Group B
- Austin Dixon – Bronze, Group B
Event 15 Girls, 100m Butterfly
- Eva Turner – Gold, Group B
- Martha Smith – Bronze, Group A
Event 16 Boys, 100m Backstroke
- Archie Lorimer – Gold, Group A
- Oliver Threlfall – Silver, Group B
- Owen Donnelly – Gold, Group B
Event 17 Girls, 50m Backstroke
- Imogen Clarkson – Gold, Group B
Event 18 Boys 50m Freestyle
- Archie Lorimer – Gold, Group A
- Owen Donnelly – Silver, Group B
- Oliver Threlfall – Bronze, Group B
Event 20 Boys 100m Breaststroke
- Archie Lorimer – Gold, Group B
- Tom Jones – Silver, Group B
- Henry Long – Bronze, Group B
Debutants
Austin Dixon, Eddy Brown, Elicia Ricioppo, Eva Turner, Henry Long, Imogen Clarkson, Laura Jones, Lily Haworth, Lucy Grayston and Tom Jones