GRAHAM Davidson clocked up 1,000 medals as coach of Taunton Deane Swimming Club in the final weekend of the County Championships, at Millfield School.

The landmark medal was a silver, won by James Prole in the 50 metres butterfly.

The remarkable total has been achieved in just over five years and, in that time, the club has become a force not just in the county but the country. The club has swimmers representing the town at every level of British swimming and recently had its first international call up.

Davidson said: “To win a 1,000 medals at county championships is an awesome achievement and one I am very proud of.

“A lot of hard work has gone into the club not just from people involved just now but all those who have been involved before hand too.

“James keeps on creating history. He is a special boy who has worked hard and was the first national medallist the club has produced.

“Special thanks to Coach Fear who has produced many of the medallists from her age group squad and I believe she is the best age group coach in the county.

“She deserves massive thanks as do all our coaches for the work they do without pay or complaint.”

The final weekend of championships saw Taunton take on the rest of the county and once again challenge Millfield for the title.

After seven days of intense and tight competition, Taunton came a close second, bringing home a remarkable 75 medals from the final weekend.

There were many events this weekend with all the sprint 50-metre events held on Saturday.

They saw some impressive swims from Emma Clarke and Alice Bluffield in the 50m backstroke and freestyle. Vicky Rayson and Joe Marsh were the fastest in the pool over the weekend in the blue ribbon 50m freestyle events.

The second day of competition saw the age group points decided.

Emily Yap, second in so many events, simply could not match the winner of her age group on the last day despite swimming so fast in the nine-year-old 200m individual medley she would have been collecting medals in the 11-year-old age group. Emma Clarke, so often trailing in last years competition, showed what happens when you knuckle down and train hard. She dominated her very strong age group this year and deservedly won the ten-year-old girls event.

Three other Deane girls made the top eight taking up half the awards – Georgia Ardren, Alice Bluffield and Sophie Abrahams producing a show of devastating might.

Jacob Greenow, absent from the last day of competition, took a risk by not swimming in his strongest event but the rest of the ten-year-old boys were not up to matching the massive score he had already amassed.

Kristy Manning made the podium in the 12 years girls’ age group event after a fantastic 200m individial medley swim.

Abi Abrahams, only just a teenager, also swam in a very strong age group and took second, losing out by just four points after some very impressive final day swims as she took the senior 200 freestyle title.

Mike Capstick was on the podium for the 13-year-old boys after some solid final day swimming.

Nick Constable was the final team member making the trip to the podium, as this new national level swimmer took second.

Taunton Deane have produced 17 individual county champions this season along with 37 individual medallists and, won over 200 medals.

The club broke records in the open girls medley relay event (Vicky Rayson, Libby Mitchell, Abi Abrahams and Vicky Beach), the senior 100m backstroke (Victoria Rayson). And, in the 25-year-old record in the 200m senior butterfly crashed to Libby Mitchell to add to the junior one she already held and the 100m senior and junior record she broken earlier in the competition.

Deane swimmers are now working hard for the regional and national championships