2023 Tim Bratchel Memorial Relay Gala Report

On Saturday evening the Academy Swim Team took part in their first team event together since the final of the Cotswold League in April. They travelled to the Horfield Leisure Centre in Bristol to compete in the yearly Tim Bratchel Memorial Relay Gala hosted by Bristol Penguins. The hosts put out 3 squads for the Gala with Severnside and Backwell Swimming Club's also taking part. It was a fast paced and highly competitive meet with plenty of noise and enthusiasm from the teams taking part. Severnside and the Bristol Penguins A squad battled it out until the end where the visitors pulled out a great win. For AST Burnham it was an opportunity for newcomers to the club and young swimmers coming through to make their first appearence for the team in a competitive gala and they gave a great account of themselves as they finished in 4th place.

This annual gala is split into 11 & Under, 13 & Under, 15 & Under and Open age groups with the Under 11 and 13 year old's swimming 4 x 25M relay's and the Under 15 and Open age groups swimming 4 x 50M relays in Butterfly, Breaststroke, Backstroke and Freestyle. The gala then rounds off with 4 mixed medley relays and the always popular mixed 8 x 50M Canon Relay with a boy and girl from each age group. With AST Burnham taking a young squad with them they were often competing against older swimmers and took on the challenge with their usual determination.

With the level of competiton high the Academy Swim Team still managed to place in the top 3 in a quarter of the Gala's races with the Under 11 Boys Killian Faubel, Henry Matthews, Harry Glanville and Leo Woodrow delivering a win for the evening in the Under 11 Breaststroke Relay. Killian, Harry, Leo and debutant Arthur Astill also gained the only 2nd place finish for the Academy Team in the Under 11 Boys Butterfly Relay.

Swimming up an age group Leo, Harry, Henry, along with fellow 11 year old Ryan Smout, also picked up one of the team's seven 3rd place finishes in the Under 13 Butterfly relay. The Open Backstroke Team's of Emily Knight, Thea Faubel, Eleanor Rees and Evie Vowles for the Girls and Lewis Hay, Fin Fooks, TT Magang and Lewis Duggan for the Boys also finished 3rd in their relay events. The Girls Open Freestyle relay team of Emily, Phoebe Poole, Evie and Eleanor picked up the fourth 3rd place of the evening. This was followed by the Under 11 Boys relay team of Arthur Astill, Joe Hay, Harry Power (all 3 making their first appearences for the club) along with Killian Faubel also finishing 3rd in the Freestyle relay.

The Open Mixed Medley relay team of Evie Vowles, Eleanor Rees, Lewis Duggan and Lewis Hay were another of the 3rd place finishers with the final event, the Mixed Canon Relay, also seeing AST Burnham's team of Rosie Woodrow, Arthur Astill, Lauren Glanville, Leo Woodrow, Eleanor Rees, Lewis Hay, Emily Knight and Lewis Duggan pick up a 3rd place finish. 

The Under 15 Girls Kira Nicholas, Phoebe Poole, Thea Faubel, Jolanta Zak and Under 15 Boys Aaron Mawby, Oscar Anderson, Jay Duggan, Sam McNulty and Isaac Masley were handed the toughest events of the evening, with the majority of them aged 13 and 14 they were often up against swimmers who were 15 years old and competed admirably against some very strong relay teams.

Coach Nic Hazleton said "Well done everyone who swam tonight, you all did amazing and should be proud of yourselves. Big shout to all the new swimmers, you all swam your hearts out against some big teams. A big thank you to all those who had to swim extra races to help the team. Thank you to the helpers and parents for getting your kids to the gala."

Team Standings

AST Results Summary

Full Results & Times

Full results and times can be viewed by clicking here.