Aquatics

Devonport Royal’s Daly claims four gold medals at National Junior Para-Swimming Champs

DEVONPORT Royal’s Abi Daly returned home from the National Junior Para-Swimming Championships in Coventry with four gold medals and a silver.

Mount Kelly’s Alexander Hobbs was also among the medallists as the championships returned after a two-year hiatus due to Covid.

Daly, competing in the S14 17-18 year-old age, came first in the 200m freestyle, 200m IM, 100m butterfly and 100m backstroke and came second in the 100m freestyle.

Daly now has her eyes on the English Nationals at Ponds Forge between July 5-9 and the British Nationals at the same venue at the end of July.

Hobbs competed in the 17-18 years’ S7 category and won silver in the 100m backstroke and came fifth in both the 50m and 100m freestyle events.

Devonport Royal’s Rachel Balling also competed at the championships. She took part in the 14-16 years’ S8 events and came fifth in the 400m freestyle and also claimed top 16 finishes in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke.

Meanwhile, Daly, who learned to swim at Longcause Special School before attending a talent ID day run by Swim England Para at the Life Centre, has been selected to take part in the Queen’s Baton relay when it comes through Plymouth on Monday, July 4.

She will carry it from 40 New George Street to 10 Cornwall Street, starting at 9.43am.

The teenager has already been a part of the Commonwealth Games build up as she has participated in a test event at Sandwell Aquatic Centre in May, called Prep the Pool.

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