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You could hardly hear yourself think at Fulham Pools on Friday as the borough’s primary schools competed in their annual swimming gala.

Good Shepherd emerged as the overall winning school, as well as producing the top-performing girls’ team, while John Betts School produced the biggest tally of points for the boys.

Despite one or two hiccups with the scoring on the day, as new electronic timing methods were introduced instead of good old stopwatches, the event was a boisterous success.

Just behind boys’ champions John Betts came All Saints, with Larmenier and Sacred Heart third. 

After Good Shepherd’s runaway win in the girls’ competition, Larmenier and Sacred Heart came second, and St Stephen’s third.
The overall 1-2-3 was also Good Shepherd, Larmnier and St Stephen’s.

“Congratulations and well done to all the school teams, but it is all the individual achievements by the children that really matter,” said Calum Fairley from the Hammersmith & Fulham Primary Schools’ Sports Association, which co-ordinated the swimming heats on 23 February, and the finals on 26 February. “We have some fantastic swimmers in Hammersmith and Fulham!”

Larmenier won the boys’ relay, Good Shepherd won the girls’ relay, Greenside won the boys’ freestyle, and Good Shepherd won the girls’ freestyle.

Mr Fairley praised the staff at the Virgin Active Fulham Pools in Normand Park, Lillie Road, Fulham, for their efforts, and the teachers from the 18 schools which took part in this year’s gala.

“Thank you also to Trevor, Pam and Flo for refereeing, judging, starting and generally supervising the event,” he added.

In terms of individual boys’ team performances, Greenside boys finished a full 10 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals in the two-length freestyle, while Larmenier boys finished eight seconds ahead of John Betts in the four-length freestyle relay.

For the girls, Good Shepherd have one of the strongest current swimming squads the tournament has ever seen, gaining first place in six of the eight competitions in the final – a phenomenal achievement.