GIRL POWER – AND HOW!
A trip to Stratford saw us going to defend our title as Gala winners for the last two years. With the cabinet at Dudley looking a little bare, it was essential that the team regained a few of those fabulous trophies.
So warm up over, it was the opening race for our 10 year old girls in the medley relay. Emily Bennett was the first in the water and gave the girls a commanding lead. Rosie Buswell held that lead with a good breaststroke, Aimee Sanders stretching the lead with a fabulous fly and completing the foursome was Kay Bennett on freestyle, bringing the girls home with a 7 second lead over the nearest team. Great start girls.
Next came the 11 year olds on the freestyle relay. This was a close one but Shannon O’Brien, Emma Pay, Katie Jones and Natalie Dingley put up a fantastic battle to finish in first place. Another medley relay next this time for the 9 year olds. Alex Westlake gave the team an early lead with Jordan Ingamells putting in a fantastic fly leg. Jordan Sharples had a good breaststroke to keep the girls out ahead. Grace was next in the water against a very strong Stratford Swimmer but Grace battled hard and won the race.
Three out of three and looking good.
Next a freestyle relay for the 12/13 year olds with Ellie, Fran, Becki C and Sophie P taking to the water. Never any doubt in the outcome – win number 4 on the board. Excellent team and well done girls.
Straight back in the water for Becki C on the backstroke and Ellie on the breaststroke in the 14/15 year old medley relay. Becky Spoor and Becky Shaw completing the team. A credit to all swimmers with an outstanding 8 second lead over the nearest team.
Next the Open girls in the freestyle relay. This was a very close race with nothing between the top 3 teams, Sophie L, Ellis, Becky E and Laura just getting touched out into 2nd place.
The first of the individual swims went to Aimee Sanders in the 10 year old fly. There was never any doubt in the outcome. Aimee leading from the dive and finishing in style. Katie Jones followed suit on the backstroke leading all the way and putting win number 7 on the board.
A beautiful dive from Jordan Sharples saw her in contention on the one length breaststroke but the other teams had some fantastic breaststroke swimmers and Jordan was just in 4th place. The 12/13 freestyle went to Sophie P and as ever, Sophie gave it 100%. She battled all the way but just got touched into 2nd place by the Stratford swimmer.
Now a quarter of the way through the gala and the points scores were in. Stourbridge holding just a 4 point lead over Stratford. This was not going to be easy.
Becky Spoor did the individual fly for the 14/15 year olds and what a swim. Having only just gone 14, Becky put in a tremendous effort to take 2nd place. Becki C next on the Backstroke. Swimming well outside her age group she came back strong over the last 2 lengths to take the win.
The first of the Trophy relays was next with one girl from each age group competing for an all breaststroke relay. Jordan Sharples took the first leg, touching in 4th place, Rosie pulled a place back to 3rd, Emma Pay and Sophie P had excellent swims, gaining on the other teams all the way. Ellie took to the water in 3rd place and was closing fast on the 2nd place team and Charlotte brought the team home in a safe 3rd place. Excellent effort from the girls but very strong opposition on this stroke.
Rosie, having just swum the relay, was back in the water for the 10 year old breaststroke. A brave effort and a good 4 points on the board. Next came Nat on the freestyle. She held off strong opposition and took the first place. Jordan Ingamells on the fly was never in any doubt and she had a convincing win. Next came Becki C on the backstroke for her own age group. This was an outstanding swim with an 11 second win over the 2nd place team. We were on a roll. Ellie took to the water, swimming up an age on the breaststroke. The Redditch girl was fighting hard but Ellie stormed to the finish touching in a full body length in front. Becky E next on the Open freestyle. This was a really tough race with very little between the swimmers with Becky doing an outstanding job.
Another trophy relay and this time the Medley. Led off by Becki C the team got off to a good start, Sophie L on the breaststroke opened up an even further gap, next came Rosie, holding onto that lead, Becky Spoor had a fantastic swim with Nat following suit and Alex finishing off in style. One trophy regained – well done girls.
Half way points and we were beginning to stretch our lead, now 10 points in front but more trophies to play for.
Straight back in the water for Nat but never any doubt that she was going to win the race, finishing a clear 7 seconds in front. Not to be outdone Emily Bennett surfaced from the dive in the lead and never lost it – a very convincing win. Back in for Ellie, this time swimming in her own age and making a very quick recovery, she led all the way. Next was Jordan Ingamells on the freestyle. She was pushed hard all the way by the Stratford swimmer but came home the victor.
Becky Shaw did the 14/15 backstroke. It was close all the way but just being touched out by the Camp Hill swimmer. A great effort Becky. Next came Charlotte for the Open girls. This was a very close race between 4 teams but Charlotte just got touched out.
Another trophy in the offering and this time the butterfly relay. The individual fly results were excellent and so hopes were high for the second trophy of the night and we weren’t disappointed. Jordan Ingamells, Aimee Sanders, Nat Dingley, Sophie P, Becky Spoor and Laura Campbell stormed this race finishing a clear 14 seconds in the lead. What can I say girls – that was an absolute pleasure to watch.
Emma Pay put in a confident breaststroke swim but the Stratford girl was a little too strong placing Emma 2nd. Kay Bennett pulled it back on her turn in the freestyle and was unlucky to finish 2nd. The backstroke win for Alex was never in any doubt.
So three quarters through the gala and two trophies in the bag, Stourbridge were leading by 23 points and looking confident.
Back to the racing. Sophie P had an outstanding swim on the fly to put an excellent 5 points on the board. Becky Spoor got us all to our feet on the freestyle. She was 2nd after the first turn, with the Stratford swimmer on the 2nd turn and on the third and final length she was coming strongly but just missed out on the touch. Unfortunately, not an everyday sight in our Stourbridge line up these days, Laura Campbell put in what looked like an effortless swim to take first place in the Open fly.
Onto the last 7 races, all relays. First up the 10 year olds on the freestyle. Kay having a good swim and touching in 3rd, Rosie maintaining the position, Emily having a storming length to put the girls in first place and Aimee finishing off for a great win. Next the 11 year olds in the medley relay. Close on the touch for 1st and 2nd place for Katie, Emma gliding down the pool and holding 2nd position, Nat powering through to put the team in the lead and Shannon having a fantastic swim to bring the team home for win number 22.
Jordan Ingamells gave the girls a fantastic start in the 9 year old freestyle relay, Grace swimming really well to hold on to first place, Jordan Sharples giving it everything to give Alex a chance on the last leg but the Stratford girl swam an outstanding race to put Stourbridge into 2nd place – what an exciting race.
Becki C gave the 12/13 year olds an early lead in the medley relay, Ellie taking up the mantle and extending the lead further, Sophie P repeating her fantastic fly swim to increase the distance and Fran powering through to bring the team home with a convincing 7 second lead.
Becky Spoor took the first leg on the 14/15 freestyle relay and touched in first place, Becki C edging a slender lead. A superb leg by Ellie gave the team some clear water and Becky Shaw finished off the job to bring the team home in first place.
The Open medley relay saw Ellis have a good swim but just touched out into 3rd place, still nothing between the teams after the 2nd leg with Charlotte battling all the way. After the 3rd leg Becky E was one of 3 swimmers who all touched together. An exciting finish saw Laura bringing the team home in 3rd place. An excellent relay and some very exciting swims.
And now for the last race and a trophy up for grabs. 12 swimmers (2 from each age group) on freestyle. Jordan Ingamells gave the team a slender lead, Alex battling hard and it was on the touch, Kay opened up a lead, Aimee powered through, Shannon having a very strong swim, (by now the roof was nearly off Stratford Leisure Centre as the noise got to fever pitch) Nat had a fantastic swim but the Stratford team were coming up fast. Fran had an outstanding swim keeping the Stratford girls at bay, Sophie P nearly took off her arms were going so fast, Becky Spoor blistered down the pool with Becky Shaw was on fire. Two more lengths to go and I think my lungs were about to burst. Sophie L having an incredible swim and Laura finishing off outstandingly with nearly a length lead to put the 3rd trophy back in the cabinet.
Now for the final points – an incredible effort by a fantastic team, gave Stourbridge a phenomenal 29 point win and the Top Club trophy. Some final decisions: swimmer of the night. This was not an easy choice and took some deliberating over. In the end I couldn’t choose just one so it’s a three way split between Nat Dingley, Ellie Lord and Becki Cole. Relay team of the night was again a difficult choice with some excellent team efforts going in but in the end it had to be the last freestyle relay event for such a convincing win. Top age group – the 11 year olds, achieving 97% of the available points in their age group.
What a fabulous night and a well deserved win for the Girls – truly GIRL POWER!
STRATFORD GIRLS GALA JUNE 21ST 2008