2025 Yorkshire Speeds
Seven members from the Crawley Town Life Saving Club returned from Leeds last weekend with a haul of six gold, three silver and three bronze medals after competing in the prestigious Yorkshire Speeds Championships.
Crawley Town LSC’s top medal winner was this year’s Northern Ireland’s Commonwealth Captain, David Butler, with three golds and a silver, swimming in the Masters 30/39 age group.
In the Open age group, unofficial world number one, Martin Schofield, with David and relative newcomer, Lynsey Wright, with Emily Kent, both took golds in the 12.5m speed line throw. Martin also won two individual silvers in times not seen since he was a GBR youth international.
Amy Newnham, an up-and-coming youth competitor in the 17/18 age group, picked up two bronzes in her favoured individual finning events.
Representing Crawley in the 12/14 age group, Tegan Oades and Emma Packham’s highest placing in a field of nearly 40 swimmers were both sixth in the 100m Tow with Fins and 100m Carry with Fins respectively.
The club will return to Leeds at the start of next month when current Junior Youth Southeast region (SER) champions, Gemma and Edie Critoph, represent the region at the RLSS-UK National Lifesaving Championships. This will be the first time the club has been represented at the final in this age group. The girls will also be teaming up with the SER Senior girls’ pairs champions from Horsham to compete in the RLSS National Youth Girl Team SERC championships.