The annual Inter Squadron Swimming Competition was held recently at Temple Cowley Pool and saw 21 Squadrons from across Oxfordshire and Berkshire in fierce battle for the awards on offer.

The competition itself was spread across four classes (Junior Boys, Senior Boys, Junior Girls and Senior Girls) and comprised both individual and team events in all four main disciplines, namely Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle. In addition there were further categories including the individual medley, one cadet completing all four strokes in one race, the medley relay (4 cadets 4 strokes) and the freestyle relay (4 cadets any stroke).

According to the Wing Sports Officer, Flight Sergeant Tweddle “we had 155 cadets and 30 Staff in attendance, the former being the largest number of cadets to attend this competition in my 9 years supporting and running sports in Thames Valley, it is thanks to the support of the squadron staff and my team of dedicated sports enthusiasts that has made this possible.”

Key amongst the many amazing performances on the day was Cadet Doran (senior girls) from 447 (Henley) Squadron who won gold in freestyle, butterfly and the individual medley and, due to her fabulous effort also won the senior girls trophy for her squadron single handed. There were also amazing performances from Cdt Dawson (junior girls) and Cdt Stone (senior boys) both of 2410 (Didcot) Squadron who each won gold in backstroke, butterfly and individual medley for their individual categories.

Flight Sergeant Tweddle was full of praise for all the efforts on the day and added “I believed last season that Thames Valley’s cadets had stepped out of the shadows and showed their skill and enthusiasm for sport, this season they are already demonstrating that they want to be seen, noticed and I hope a force to be reckoned with in South West Region and the Corps. I look forward to taking our team to the Inter Wing Competition on the 6th October”.

Results