Family Sports Update: Synchro, Trampolining, Football and Travel

It’s been a while since I posted a proper update, so when I saw Donna’s #LivingArrows prompt this morning, it felt like the right moment to share where we are. The blog has been quieter than usual: part of that has been behind-the-scenes technical work, but mostly life at the Costello house has been dominated by three very sporty girls and their busy schedules.

Millie continues to do exceptionally well in synchronized swimming. I post photos and short updates to Facebook and Instagram stories for anyone following along. Last weekend she competed at the British Championships, with an outstanding result: medals in ten of eleven categories and the Holland trophy for the highest overall scores for the second year running. It was a proud moment for her, and for the whole team. Broadcaster coverage of the event has been available for a limited time, and the buzz at home since her success has been wonderful.

This week marks the start of the travelling season for Millie, with Senior Europeans taking place in St Petersburg. She was dropped off in Bristol last weekend before her flight midweek, which left me a bit anxious until I can join her in St Petersburg later this week. These trips are incredible opportunities for her to experience competition at a high level and to see different countries, but it’s always a relief to arrive and give her a proper hug. Over the next two months she has more international events on the calendar — Barcelona and Prague are next if everything goes according to plan — and I’ll try to share highlights from our travels here on the blog when I can.

Violet gets asked about a lot — people often wonder whether she misses out because Millie’s schedule is so full. The answer is no. Violet packs her days with trampolining, dance, swimming and plenty of running. She’s incredibly fit and enthusiastic. Just yesterday she and Mr C ran a 10K in Liverpool and finished in 53:53 — a brilliant effort from a twelve-year-old who clearly loves being active. After the race she was still bouncing on the trampoline for ages, which sums her up perfectly. We’re looking for a local running club to help her refine technique and give her goals to work toward, and it will be great to find a coach who can channel that energy into progress.

And then there’s our resident football fanatic. I owe our neighbours a public apology for the hours of ball-kicking in the front garden, the stray balls over fences, and the impromptu goalposts that sometimes block the path. The football phase has been relentless in the best way possible. Tara trains, watches and talks about football constantly. Her season with Ravenhead Vixens has wrapped up, which frees up time for extra training sessions and friendlies with her teammates. On Mother’s Day her squad had the unforgettable experience of being mascots at a Manchester City Ladies match, and we cheered them on enthusiastically when they won the FA Cup final. That day remains a family favourite memory.

As hectic as it all is, I love that each girl has chosen something different. Occasionally we manage the rare moment when all three are in the pool together for a quick speed session, but that’s a special and uncommon occurrence. They are distinct personalities with their own ambitions and rhythms, and we never put pressure on any of them to outshine the others. Our priority is that they stay healthy, enjoy what they’re doing, and learn from their sports — resilience, teamwork and dedication. The parents, meanwhile, remain exhausted but proud.

Thanks for reading this catch-up. If you enjoy these family and sport updates, I’ll keep sharing highlights from competitions, travel and the everyday chaos that comes with raising three active girls. There’s always something happening, and I love documenting the journey when time allows.