Six Haberdashers’ Monmouth School swimmers won national medals, achieved personal bests and reached championship finals at the Welsh National Swimming Championships, with two pupils now ranked among the UK’s top 20 swimmers in their age groups.
Two Haberdashers’ Monmouth School pupils have achieved UK Top 20 rankings following an outstanding week at the Welsh National Swimming Championships in Swansea.
A team of six swimmers from Haberdashers’ Monmouth School claimed national medals, reached championship finals and recorded a remarkable collection of personal bests during the five-day Swim Wales Summer Championships, held at the Wales National Pool from 29th July to 2nd August.
The standout performances came from Year 8 pupils Oscar H and Caroline M, whose championship times have now placed them among the top 20 swimmers in the United Kingdom for their age groups in the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly respectively. The achievement is particularly notable as both athletes represent local club Monnow Swimming Club, which trains at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School.
Oscar, competing in the 13-year-old category, qualified for nine events and reached the final in all seven races he contested. He secured silver in the 50m butterfly and bronze in the 50m freestyle while narrowly missing further podium finishes in the 100m butterfly and 50m breaststroke by just two hundredths of a second. He recorded personal bests in every event.
Caroline enjoyed an equally impressive championships in the 12-year-old age group. She reached five finals from seven events and achieved personal bests across the board, winning gold in the 50m butterfly, silver in the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle, and bronze in the 100m backstroke.
The school also celebrated success in the senior age groups. Archie H, a Year 12 student, reached two finals and claimed silver in the 50m breaststroke after achieving personal best times in both of his events. Fellow Torfaen Dolphins swimmer Seb B recorded personal bests in all six races he contested. Elizabeth M competed in two events at the national championships, gaining valuable experience against some of Wales’ strongest swimmers.
The championships also marked a breakthrough moment for para-swimmer Morgan F, competing at the event for the first time. Despite racing against older athletes, she won a gold medal, silver medal and two bronze medals while achieving personal bests in five of her six events. One bronze medal came in the 100m freestyle, where she secured a podium finish on para points despite being the youngest swimmer in the race. Morgan later said she felt her training was “starting to pay off”.
Several of the swimmers balance national-level training and competition with their studies, demonstrating the growing strength of swimming in the school and the pathways available to talented young athletes.
Richie Rees, Director of Sport Academy at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, said:
“To have six pupils competing at a national championships is an achievement in itself, but the medal successes, personal best performances and UK rankings achieved by our swimmers make this a truly exceptional summer. We are particularly delighted for Oscar and Caroline in reaching the UK’s Top 20, while Morgan’s achievements on her first appearance at the championships demonstrate the depth of talent we have across the programme. Their success is a testament to their commitment, the support of their clubs and families, and the strong swimming culture we are continuing to develop here in Haberdashers’ Monmouth School.”
