Talbot Heath School returned to the English Schools National Secondary Schools Finals, held at the stunning Sandwell Aquatics Pool in Birmingham — home to the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Four brilliant teams from Talbot Heath earned their spots at this prestigious event through an intense Regional Championship held in October.
The excitement kicked off bright and early at 6:30 a.m. as the teams hopped on the minibus, full of energy and ready to rock the mid-country route. The drive was filled with the sweet sounds of singing and laughter, keeping the spirits high. Even before hitting the pool, the girls showcased their superstar moves with a mini dance party poolside—what a sight to see.
Once the warm-up session wrapped up, Blossom (Intermediate) and Florence (Junior) led their teams in the Southwest Parade, setting the stage for fierce competition. The whole pool stood proud for the National Anthem, and it was all business as the racing began.
First up was the Junior 4 x 50m Freestyle team, composed of Polina, Caidee, Romilly, and Florence, who entered the race strong in 17th place. With a goal of reaching the final and surpassing their entry time (which was achieved in a shorter 25m pool), the girls were ready to tackle the 50m challenge. They put their heart and soul into their performance, each smashing their personal bests and collectively racing an impressive two seconds faster than their entry time! Despite their incredible effort, they finished just shy of the final in 12th place.
Next to take to the start blocks, was the Intermediate 4 x 50m Freestyle team, starting the race from 30th place. For Yasmin and Coco, this was their first experience at the ESSA National Finals. They joined Daria and Blossom for the event. The girls performed phenomenally, diving below their qualifying entry time and catapulting themselves up to 28th place!
After swim downs and a fun-filled round of UNO and Taco games, the girls regrouped and geared up for the next challenge: the 4 x 50m Medley Relays. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation with hopes set on cracking the Top 10 for a shot at the finals.
The Junior Team kicked things off with Romilly in backstroke, followed by Caidee in breaststroke, Polina in butterfly, and Florence powering through freestyle. They equalled their entry time and surged up to 12th place. Meanwhile, the Intermediate Team, led by Blossom in backstroke, Victoria in breaststroke, Daria in butterfly, and Yasmin in freestyle, put in an inspiring effort, moving up to 17th place.
Coach Barry Alldrick commented, “Overall, the teamwork and progress shown by every single Talbot Heath team was impressive, with all groups improving their standings since the regional rounds. This experience showcased not only their competitive spirit but also the fun camaraderie and passion that define Talbot Heath School pupils”
A big thank you to Tim and his team at the ESSA Championships for making this a great event, a big thank you to the parents supporting at the venue and through the Live Stream and thank you to Mrs Salmond for Team Managing.
Mrs Harris congratulated Barry and the team on their success, thanking Barry in particular for his commitment to the girls’ preparation and support throughout the event.
Results and Live Stream can be viewed here:
Results: https://www.essa-schoolswimming.com/index.php/events/live-event-information
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TrwnJA0dJs&t=15014s
