Young Derbyshire swimmers recognised among best in country at school championships

Throughout the academic year IAPs, the Independent Association of Prep Schools, stages landmark championships in different sports including cross country, hockey and football, as well as swimming.

Barlborough Hall School pupil Erin Gent, 11, who competes in the under 11 girls backstroke, placed second fastest qualifier out of 165 swimmers from across the UK.

And 11-year-old Andy Edgar, was also second fastest qualifier in the boys’ under 11 freestyle competition out of a total of 155 swimmers.

Other outstanding results include Ffion Elsby Adams, 11, a pupil at Barlborough Hall School, who was seventh fastest qualifier in the country at 50m freestyle.

Sisters Ruby-Rose and Scarlett Miller, both at Mount St Mary’s College, also placed in the top five for their individual strokes.

Erin, who will move up to Mount St Mary’s College, the senior school for Barlborough Hall School, in September, said she was extremely pleased for herself and the team to have placed so highly.

She said: “I’ve tried so hard throughout the course of this year and put in a lot of training, but then of course I’ve had to stop because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It has been so difficult to go from swimming every day to not being able to go to the pool at all, so getting these results through is extra special and makes me realise why it’s all so worthwhile.”