ON Saturday a different mix of Beccles swimmers from recent competitions took to the pool in a friendly gala held at Great Yarmouth. The Broadland Series is a platform for new and up-and-coming swimmers to get their first taste of a competitive swimming along with senior swimmers who are after more gala practice.

ON Saturday a different mix of Beccles swimmers from recent competitions took to the pool in a friendly gala held at Great Yarmouth.

The Broadland Series is a platform for new and up-and-coming swimmers to get their first taste of a competitive swimming along with senior swimmers who are after more gala practice.

Held in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere it helps give the new swimmers a chance to show off their improvement without feeling under pressure.

Even though points are awarded it is more based on individual performances with the aim of beating or achieving new personal best times.

In this round a staggering 31 out of a possible 36 pbs were recorded for the Kingfishers. Most noticeably the youngest age group, the nine and unders, picked up nine pbs out of their 10 swims.

One of the biggest pb breakers of the night was nine-year-old Kieran Hayward, who took nearly six seconds off his freestyle time and a massive eight seconds off his breaststroke time.

This performance was followed by James Catchpole, also swimming in the 9/u, who beat his freestyle time by four seconds and his backstroke by seven seconds. Both in their first gala.

His two elder sisters kept the times falling in the family, with Laura Catchpole taking two seconds off her individual medley time and then eight seconds off her butterfly time in the 13/u.

Elena Catchpole followed suit in the butterfly with a two seconds pb off her old time which was only recorded a month ago in the 11/u age group.

Also in the 11/u Bonnie Birch in her first gala got herself a new time in the backstroke and then swam up an age group in the 13/u freestyle to bag a four seconds pb. Bethany Rogers rounded up the 11/u age group with a four seconds pb in her breaststroke and a pb in her freestyle. Following a strong swim Imogen Sida-Page only just missed out on a pb in her 13/u breaststroke event.

The nine-year-old girls saw Katherine Guttridge, Nina Howell and Lydia Sida-Page competing in their first with some amazing swims. Katherine started things off by getting a two seconds pb in her freestyle. Nina then took a second off her breaststroke time and three seconds off her freestyle, followed by Lydia getting a second off her breaststroke time.

In the 11/u boys Ross Barnshaw swam well in his first gala with a pb in his backstroke and a six seconds pb in his freestyle. In the same age group Matthew Hayward followed his brother with a strong swim in the breaststroke, picking up a new time.

Elliot Fenn put this year's hard work to use in the breaststroke with a five seconds pb swimming up an age group in the 13/u.

Macauley Woodard, also in the 13/u, smashed his recent pb in the backstroke by five seconds. Charles Lees, another one swimming up an age group, was not put off by older swimmers with a four seconds pb in the butterfly and two seconds off his freestyle.

The senior swimmers in the 16/u age group led the way with Richard Clarke picking up a four seconds pb in the individual medley and a further one second off his backstroke time. Lewis Taylor, swimming up an age group, took on swimmers three years older and gained a new time in his butterfly and a two seconds pb in his breaststroke.

Tom Guttridge, back from injury, picked up a new time in the freestyle.

The 16/u girls rounded the gala off with Zanna Yallop swimming well in her backstroke and gaining a pb in her freestyle and Rebecca Harrison finishing the night with a two seconds pb in her butterfly and a strong swim in her breaststroke.

A well-swum gala with some great pbs and the points finished Great Yarmouth 147, Beccles 138, Lowestoft and Oulton Broad 109 and Harleston 53.