BECAUSE of the snow, only three of the 20 members from Abergavenny Swimming Club who were due to take part in Newport’s ’Christmas Cracker’ event could attend.

Thirteen-year-old Rob Yumul obtained new personal best times in both the freestyle and butterfly. Eight-year-old Emme Sherrard also achieved personal best times in backstroke and breaststroke. Ava Wright produced a great swim, winning a silver medal in the 14-year-old girls 50m backstroke.

The Christmas Cracker was the final event for the club this year. The club coaches have been really pleased with the constant improvements in the swimmer’s performances throughout the year.

The club started a new partnership with Monmouthshire County Council in February, which allowed more pool time for the club, and set up a pathway for young swimmers completing the ’learn to swim’ programme to move on on to a local and competitive swimming club.

Monmouthshire’s Swimming Development Officer Natalie Parfitt has been instrumental in the new arrangements, with club coaches Nicky Sherrard, Paul Evans, Harle Howells, Liz Jenkins, Zoe Anderson, Millie West-Jones and Clare Vickers all personally giving up their time to work with the swimmers.

The club enter the new year in a positive mood and plan to build on the success of 2017.

Pictured are Rob Yumul, Emme Sherrard and Ava Wright