Dereham Otters Crowned Top Club at Halloween Mini Meet

Dereham Otters enjoyed an outstanding day at the Halloween Mini Meet on Saturday 24th October, with a team of 28 swimmers delivering an impressive set of results across 135 swims. The squad returned home with an incredible 90 medals, comprising 49 gold, 24 silver and 17 bronze, and were also crowned Top Club in recognition of their performances.

The swimmers demonstrated enthusiasm, competitive spirit and excellent teamwork throughout the competition, highlighting the strength and depth of the Dereham-based club.

Among the standout moments was the return of Lilyanna Gilbert and Jemima Kettell, who have recently rejoined Dereham Otters following time away from the club. Both swimmers settled back into competition positively, with Jemima achieving a personal best in every race she swam. Lilyanna also celebrated a particularly significant milestone by securing her first-ever county qualifying time. This marks an important step in her swimming journey and recognises the progress she has made.

Head coach Sam Watts praised the whole squad for their performances, highlighting that the success extended beyond the impressive medal tally. Swimmers were commended for challenging themselves, improving their personal performances, supporting teammates and gaining valuable racing experience.

The club also acknowledged the contribution of its parents, team managers and volunteers, whose continued support helps make competitions possible.

The combination of an outstanding medal haul and the Top Club title made the Halloween Mini Meet a memorable occasion for Dereham Otters, reflecting the swimmers’ progress and the collective effort of everyone involved.