NATIONAL ARENA SWIMMING LEAGUE

 

12 DECEMBER 2009 – ROUND 3

 

The team:

 

Aaron Alex G Alex T Edward Harry Jack Jake Joe B Joe H

Myles Nick Rich Sam K Sam T Tom A Tom B Tom M

Aimee Becki C Becky S Bethan Ellie C Ellie L Emily

Gemma Laura Lauren C Lauren S Nat Olivia Sophie P

 

Tonight gave us a better draw than the previous 2 rounds but we still had some tough opposition so it was going to be a great gala.

 

The first 10 events saw some steady results coming in with the 15s Girls Freestyle Team (Sophie, Ellie, Becki C and Becky S) putting our first win of the night on the sheet and the Men’s Open Medley Team (Nick, Rich, Tom B and Harry) also taking 1^st place. The Boys 13s Medley Relay (Sam K, Tom M, Jake and Myles) put in a great effort to take 2^nd place.  At this point we were lying in 3^rd place behind Worcester and Chase so we needed to step up a gear.

 

After 20 races we were still in 3^rd place but closing the gap on the leaders thanks to some great swims from Aimee (1^st - Girls 11s Backstroke); Becki C 1^st on the 15s Backstroke (winning by just under 6 seconds clear of the 2^nd place swimmer); Tom B – 1^st Men’s Open Butterfly and Lauren C – 2^nd Ladies Open Butterfly.

 

Race 19 to 26 was an excellent team effort – every swimmer finishing in the top 3:

 

1^st places to:

Aimee – 11s Fly (2 galas running now Aimee has put in double tops!!)

Sam K – 13s Back (3.5 seconds clear of his nearest rival)

Becki C – Open Back (again 3.5 seconds clear)

 

2^nd places to:

Becky S (15s Fly)

Nick (Open Back)

 

3^rd places to:

Joe H (11s Fly)

Lauren S (13s Back)

Jack (15s Fly)

 

With this calibre of swimming we had moved into joint 1^st place with Chase, with only 1 point separating the top 3 teams – the race was hotting up!!

 

Races 27 and 34 saw 2^nd places coming from Aaron (11s Breaststroke); Tom M (13s Fly); Becky S and Sam T (15s Free); and Rich (Open Breaststroke).  Although we were swimming strong, Chase had an excellent set of results taking 5 wins out of the 8 events.  So with 34 events gone we were in 2^nd place.  But there was much more to come …

 

The next events saw us raise our game – a flurry on 1^st places on event 40, 41 and 42 – Jack (15s Breast); Lauren C and Harry (Open Free) put us right back in the hunt and only 1 point behind Chase but Worcester were coming up strong in 3 place.

 

Everything to play for in the last 8 events – the relays.  Our 11 year old Girls Medley team (Aimee, Bethan, Olivia and Ellie C) started the ball rolling with a fabulous win in event 43.  The crowd were on their feet screaming as the girls came in with a clear 2 second margin.  They had laid down the challenge for the rest of the team!  Not to be outdone the Girls 15s Medley Team (Becki C, Ellie L, Becky S and Sophie) took maximum points with a convincing swim.

 

The scores on the doors in the spectator area had us one point behind with 2 events to go.  Step up the ladies Open Freestyle team – the noise in the pool was deafening as 4 teams raced in together – you couldn’t have called a closer finish.  The result didn’t go our way so it was down to our Men’s Open Freestyle Relay.  The lads (Tom B, Rich, Alex T, Jack, Harry and Nick) won by a clear margin but the final result would depend on the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th places. With the finish so close and a huge splash of water it was difficult to tell.  And so we played the waiting game, biting our nails for the final result. 

 

A joint points result for Chase and ourselves saw the gala go to count back on 1^st places – the tension was unbearable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

BUT WE DID IT!

 

So the final scores:

 

Stourbridge                         212 points

Chase                                     212 points

Worcester                              204 points

Long Eaton                            165 points

Ledbury                                  149 points

Ludlow                                      98 points

 

What a fantastic result!! I nearly lost my voice and I know I’ll have a sore shoulder tomorrow from trying to emulate a windmill for most of the gala!!

 

Clear winners for the stroke of the night go to our backstrokers – an outstanding effort from you all.  Age group of the night on points, yet again, was the Men’s Open swimmers taking an amazing 34 points from their swims.  My team of the night, goes to the 11s Girls for their unbelievable efforts in the Medley Relay – well done Aimee, Bethan, Olivia and Ellie C.

 

Oh no – I can’t believe my eyes – the very last gala of 2009 and YESSSSSSSSSSS the lads have done it – you’ve finally beaten the girls!!!!!  Sorry Girls but it’s been a long time coming!

 

Swimmer of the night was a very tough call.  I had so many outstanding performances to pick from but it goes down to the fact that these 2 swimmers took maximum points in both their individual events, joint honours go to AIMEE SANDERS and BECKI COLE.  Well done Girls – you were gob smackingly amazing tonight!

 

I would like to make a special mention to a young lady who stepped in at the very last minute to make the journey to Stafford.  This young lady was part of the reason that our 11 year old Girls stormed to victory in the Medley Relay – Olivia you were an absolute superstar tonight and I can’t thank you enough for coming to my rescue.

 

I would like to thank my helpers and officials on poolside without whom my job would be impossible and to our hosts Chase for a great gala. 

 

And now I need a lie down!!!

 

Jason