A member of Sedgefield 75 Swimming Club has just returned from the Annual UK School Games in Manchester with a clutch of gold medals.
The School Games is a multi-sport programme designed to motivate and inspire millions of young people across the country to take part in competitive sport.
It offers pupils a year-round programme of sport that culminates in a showcase event at national level.
Able and disabled athletes from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales are provided with the opportunity to experience life in an athletes’ village and attend both educational and motivational workshops to prepare them for sporting futures on the international stage.
Hannah Featherstone, 16, who is coached by John Moore at the Newton Aycliffe pool, was especially inspired by speeches from the 50m/100m breast-stroke world record holder, Adam Peaty and gold medallist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Fran Halsall.
“It was brilliant to listen to outstanding role models from the swimming world who had also competed at the School Games and have since progressed to world fame.”
Hannah had been selected to represent ‘Team North’ in the pool for the third consecutive year. Team manager, Paul Simpson, was keen to retain the top team title which they had won the previous year.
Hannah, who had competed for GB in the inaugural European Games in Azerbaijan in June of this year, had set her sights on claiming gold medal in the 100m freestyle event.
After two exciting days of intense competition in the former Commonwealth Manchester pool, Hannah returned home with two team golds from the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m relay as well as the coveted title in the individual 100m race.
One of the proudest moments of her swimming career to date came when she was selected as girls’ team captain and was able to accept the trophy on behalf of her teammates. “I enjoyed every minute of my time in Manchester and the event could not have ended for me in a better way!”
