JUNIOR synchronised swimming stars from Kirklees have collected a mighty haul of medals at the Yorkshire Novice championships at Knottingley.
The youngest team members from the Borough of Kirklees Synchronised Swimming Club achieved a double success in the duet competition, winning both first and second places.
The top score and gold medal went to eight-year-olds Megan Jackson from Shelley and Lauren Wyke from Birchencliffe, with nine-year-old duo Alice Scholes from Netherton and Anggita Gunnawan (Dalton) taking silver.
Champion swimmer Alice Hodge (12) from Rastrick won gold for her solo in the 10-13 years category. She also gained first place in the figures competition, proving her skill at various key synchronised swimming strokes.
Alice and teammate Isobel Scholes (11) from Netherton also won silver for their duet in the same age category.
It was a successful day for Isobel and her younger sister Alice, who between them won a total of seven medals. As well as winning silver for their duets, Isobel won a bronze medal for her solo work, with Alice winning bronze medals for both her solo and figures work.
The Scholes sisters both swam in the team event, winning a bronze medal, where they were joined by Eloise Bray (12) and newcomers Ellen Greenwood (10) and Scarlett Kay (nine).
Coach Leanne Parker said: “The girls did absolutely brilliantly. They all have so much potential. They are still young, and if they have won so many medals already, just wait until next year, they will do even better!”
Competition time is hard work for the army of dedicated parents, who help coach the girls and support them at events.
The girls all need their hair to be set in elaborate styles, which are just as fantastic as those worn by the synchronised swimmers at this summer’s Bejing Olympics.
Fortunately, the team have found the answer is to use Easycook gelatine!
The gelatine sets their hair as hard as a rock, so it doesn’t move a fraction during the complicated and strenuous underwater synchronised swimming routines.
“We used five boxes of Easycook gelatine during the competition – that’s five pints of the gelatine! Even though it takes ages to get it out afterwards, the girls all say that it leaves their hair in excellent condition!” smiles Leanne.
