Some young local swimmers from the Exiles Sports Club showed great promise at the Atlantis Christmas Cracker Meet held at Pavillions in the Park, Horsham, UK that took place last weekend, winning three gold, four silver and five bronze medals!

The team travelled to the UK with a group of 14 swimmers, with ages ranging from 9 to 20, of which 5 were competing internationally for the first time, led by coaches Tim Hartley and Edward Caruana Dingli.

All swimmers swam personal bests or season best times in their events, which bodes well for their upcoming participation in the first ASA Short Course National Championships. Aside from the number of medals won across their age groups, the swimmers were awarded ribbons for 4th to 6th place finishes in the age 12 and under categories.

Here are the medals won by the Exiles SC swimmers:

Bea Busuttil - Age Group 13

Gold - 100m and 200m Breaststroke 
Silver - 50m Breaststroke
Jax Ciantar Gatt - Age Group 9 and under
Silver - 100m Freestyle and 100m Breaststroke
Bronze - 50m Butterfly
Ribbons - 50m Freestyle (4th) and 100m IM (6th)

Cristina Felice - Age Group 16 and over
Bronze - 400m IM

Maggie Marshall - Age Group 14
Gold - 400m Freestyle
Bronze - 200m Freestyle and 200m IM

Kyle Mifsud  - Age Group 16 and over
Silver - 400m Freestyle
Bronze - 200m Backstroke

Julian Spiteri Staines - Age Group 10
Ribbons - 100m Breaststroke (5th) and 50m Butterfly (6th)

The team’s coaches praised the swimmers for their hard work put in during the summer months and in the build up to the event. They also commented how this group of swimmers were setting an example for younger upcoming swimmers in their work ethic, performance and behaviour.

Following the competition, the competitive squad is now back to work to prepare for the upcoming ASA Short Course National Championships – wishing them the best of luck!

Well done to the entire team!