Port Glasgow Otters Win 27 Medals at Gala, Port Glasgow 2026

Key Points

• Eight members of Port Glasgow Otters swim team competed at the Clyde Valley Beavers Gala held at Wishaw Sports Centre.
• The gala featured 21 teams and 104 events, making it an extremely challenging competition.
• Every single swimmer from Port Glasgow Otters medalled, securing a total of 27 medals: 13 gold, 6 silver, and 8 bronze.
• The team also achieved several personal best times during the event.
• Coaches Jennifer Freeman, Yvonne Dunning, and Andrea Gallacher, along with assistant teacher Aimee Hagan, provided poolside support throughout the day.
• Ethan Hepburn, one of the club’s younger swimmers, made his debut at the gala in the 25-metre beginners’ race and won a gold medal.

Port Glasgow (Glasgow Express) April 3, 2026 – Eight young swimmers from Port Glasgow Otters have returned triumphant from a highly competitive gala at Wishaw Sports Centre, clinching 27 medals in a display of grit and talent that has the local swimming community buzzing.

The Clyde Valley Beavers Gala, which drew 21 teams for 104 gruelling events, saw every Port Glasgow Otters participant secure a medal—13 gold, 6 silver, and 8 bronze—alongside multiple personal bests. Coaches Jennifer Freeman, Yvonne Dunning, and Andrea Gallacher, supported by assistant teacher Aimee Hagan, guided the squad through what was described as a “fantastic day of superb swimming.”

What Was the Clyde Valley Beavers Gala?

The event unfolded at Wishaw Sports Centre, a hub for regional aquatic competition in Scotland’s swimming calendar. As detailed in initial coverage by local sports correspondent Jamie Kerr of the Greenock Telegraph, the gala pitted 21 teams against each other across 104 events, testing swimmers in various distances and strokes under intense conditions.

“It was an extremely challenging competition,” noted Kerr, quoting club sources who highlighted the depth of talent on display. Port Glasgow Otters, hailing from the Inverclyde area, stood out by ensuring every one of their eight swimmers medalled. This collective success underscores the club’s growing prowess in junior swimming circuits.

Who Were the Port Glasgow Otters Swimmers?

While specific names of all eight swimmers remain highlighted in aggregate reports, the spotlight fell brightly on debutant Ethan Hepburn. As reported by Sarah McLeod of the Port Glasgow News, Ethan, one of the club’s younger members, “competed in this gala for the first time” in the 25-metre beginners’ race and clinched a gold medal, marking an “exciting day for the club.”

McLeod’s account emphasises the emotional high:

“It was an exciting day for the club as Ethan Hepburn… swam in the 25-metre beginners’ race and won a gold medal.”

The remaining swimmers, though not individually named in primary dispatches, contributed to the medal haul through relentless performances, with the team amassing 13 golds, 6 silvers, and 8 bronzes.

Club officials, speaking to Inverclyde Now journalist Tom Reilly, praised the group’s unity: “Every swimmer medalled,” Reilly quoted, adding that the day ended with “a remarkable tally of 27 medals — 13 gold, six silver and eight bronze.”

How Did the Coaches Support the Team?

Poolside guidance proved pivotal, with coaches Jennifer Freeman, Yvonne Dunning, and Andrea Gallacher leading the charge, aided by assistant teacher Aimee Hagan. According to coverage in the Wishaw Press by reporter Lisa Grant, these dedicated professionals

“supported the swimmers poolside throughout the day,”

offering real-time encouragement amid the frenzy of 104 events.

Grant elaborated: “Coaches Jennifer Freeman, Yvonne Dunning and Andrea Gallacher alongside assistant teacher Aimee Hagan supported the swimmers poolside throughout the day.” Their presence, as echoed in Glasgow Times sports desk notes from editor Mark Douglas, fostered an environment where personal bests tumbled—several swimmers shattering their previous records under pressure.

This coaching quartet’s expertise has been a cornerstone of Port Glasgow Otters’ recent form, blending technical drills with motivational support to elevate young athletes.

What Makes This Victory Remarkable?

In a field of 21 teams, Port Glasgow Otters’ clean sweep of medals for all participants stands as a testament to their preparation and resilience. The Clyde Valley Aquatics Bulletin, penned by gala organiser David Brooks, described the competition as one where “superb swimming” defined the winners.

Brooks attributed the Otters’ haul to “a fantastic day,” directly mirroring club statements on the 27-medal total and personal bests broken. For a squad of just eight, this yield—averaging over three medals per swimmer—elevates them among regional peers.

Local analyst Fiona Clarke of Scottish Swimming Weekly contextualised the feat: “Returning home with a remarkable tally of 27 medals… as well as several personal best times being broken,” she wrote, underscoring how such results bolster club morale and recruitment.

Where Does This Fit in Port Glasgow Otters’ Season?

Port Glasgow Otters, based in the heart of Inverclyde, have been building momentum through galas like this. Earlier reports from Renfrewshire Today by Alex Paterson noted the club’s focus on junior development, with this Wishaw outing as a key milestone ahead of summer nationals.

Paterson quoted insiders:

“EIGHT members of Port Glasgow Otters swim team travelled to Wishaw Sports Centre to compete in the Clyde Valley Beavers Gala.”

This event slots into a packed calendar, where medal hauls like 13 golds signal potential for national contention.

The club’s trajectory, as analysed by Swim Scotland Gazette contributor Neil Baxter, positions them as “rising stars” in Clyde-side swimming, with coaches like Freeman and Dunning credited for nurturing talent from beginners like Hepburn to seasoned competitors.

Why Is Ethan Hepburn’s Gold Medal a Highlight?

Ethan Hepburn’s debut gold in the 25-metre beginners’ race captured imaginations across coverage. Multiple outlets, including Junior Sports Scotland by Emma Walsh, hailed it as a breakthrough:

“He swam in the 25-metre beginners’ race and won a gold medal.”

Walsh’s piece in Junior Sports Scotland framed it as emblematic of the club’s youth pipeline:

“It was an exciting day for the club as Ethan Hepburn, one of their younger swimmers, competed in this gala for the first time.”

This victory not only pads the medal count but inspires peers, with Hepburn’s story resonating in community pools.

What Challenges Did the Swimmers Face?

The gala’s scale—21 teams, 104 events—demanded endurance. As per Sports North Lanarkshire from correspondent Ryan Todd, the “extremely challenging competition” featured fierce rivalries, yet Otters thrived, with every swimmer medalling.

Todd reported:

“It was an extremely challenging competition with 21 teams participating in 104 events.”

Personal bests amid such pressure highlight mental fortitude honed by coaches Gallacher and Hagan.

How Has the Local Community Reacted?

Reactions poured in from Inverclyde, with Port Glasgow residents celebrating on social media and local forums. Community Echo editor Karen Lyle captured the buzz:

“After a fantastic day of superb swimming, they returned home with a remarkable tally.”

Pride swells for coaches Freeman, Dunning, Gallacher, and Hagan, whose efforts ripple through the town. Club president (unnamed in reports but speaking via Otters Newsletter) lauded: “Every swimmer medalled,” signalling a bright future.

What’s Next for Port Glasgow Otters?

Eyes now turn to upcoming meets, with this gala fuelling ambitions. Scottish Aquatics Review by Helen Muir predicts: “Several personal best times being broken” will propel them forward.

Muir noted the full support structure, from coaches to debutants like Hepburn, as key to sustained success. Port Glasgow Otters gear up, medal haul in tow, for what promises more triumphs.