| West
Midlands Speedo League Round 1 Report - 14th October 2006
(Division 1 gala held at Coventry Leisure Centre) Report by Jason Thom Well as usual we seem to have no luck with the draws this year. The venue Coventry 50m.The opposition awesome. This would prove to be incredibly difficult. In fact the hardest to date for me.There's more, with our superstar available to select too I began to realise how difficult this would be. Lauren of course is 15 and it would be ideal to swim her as an Open swimmer and not as a 15. However after reading the rules I realised there could be a problem. Both Stew and I were unsure about the ruling regarding Open swimmers so we decided to go straight to the top and find out for sure as we did not want to be in trouble on the day or after. Unfortunately we would get no answer until the morning of the event. This would mean I had to write out two team sheets one as Lauren as a 15 and one as an Open. Sounds no problem but believe me it really was. Imagine let’s say we had Beckham in our squad and we played him in goal that's how awkward it was. It turned out to be in our favour and we could use our trump card in the place we needed her most. Our normal Open swimmers were few and far between. Most having just gone to Uni. They could not come back so soon surely? One did and we would really need her. Let’s see who it was no prizes though she loves it. Oh and just for good measure the coach was late again which would mean we would have a poor position poolside. Never mind bring it on. The Team: 11's: Sophie Page, Beth Davies, Kate Fletcher, Hannah Williams, Tom Asprey, Joe Birnie, Elliott Barnbrook and Tom Pearson 13’s: Sarah Pearson, Becky Shaw, Grace Rollason, Fran Pincin, Alex Thom, Graham Harrington, Jon Lee and Ant Parkes 15’s: Charlotte Rowbotham, Becky Evans, Zoe Hunter, Ellis Ward Brennan, Harry Lord, Adam Cox, Sam Rowbotham and Ste Nock Open’s : Lauren Collins, Laura Blunt, Nat Blakemore, James Nock, Phil Harrington, Matt Hooper and Ant Millard Event 1 & 2 Open 200m IM Lauren and James. 2nd and 5th Lauren told me she would not win this as her team mate from the City of Birmingham was in it and she was 20, I think she said. Still looked as if she cruised to second place seven seconds clear of third. James too not bad really just touched out from 4th and would be better over 100m Event 3 & 4 11’s 4x50m Freestyle Relay. 2nd and 6th Excellent swim from the girls very promising for the Diddy league next year. The lads were under strength with Sam missing. However I think they did there best. Well done to all Event 5 & 6 13’s 4x50m Medley Relay. 5th and 1st The girls seemed to struggle here but the lads were awesome with the first win and against top class opposition. Well Done to Jon, G, Al and Ant. Event 7 & 8 15’s 4x50m Freestyle Relay. The girls I think were rather distracted before and during the evening and I hope this was a one off. The lads well done with three 14’s this was a splendid effort. Event 9 & 10 Open 4x50m Medley Relay. 4th and 6th Good result for the girls here with an unusual line up. The lads were rather disappointed with their efforts Event 11 & 12 11’s 50m Backstroke. Sophie 2nd and Tom 3rd. Great swims from two younger members of the team. Well done to you both Event 13 & 14 13’s 100m Breaststroke. Fran 6th and Graham 1st. With Fran swimming up an age group she did her best. On the other hand ‘G’ would take the first individual win of the evening. Event 15 & 16 15’s 100m Backstroke. Zoe 4th and Sam 5th. Good result for Zoe, she was disappointed not to be swimming in a breaststroke event. Sam however swimming in one of his favoured events swam well against tough and older opposition. Event 17 & 18 Open 100m Butterfly. Lauren 1st and Ant 5th. Simply The Best, a clear winner by over 5 seconds. Ant get back in the pool training looked good and can go faster, although I think he did another P.B Event 19 & 20 11’s 50m Butterfly. Beth 4th and Tom 3rd. Fantastic technique from Beth and a powerful swim from Tom. Well Done to both of you Event 21 & 22 13’s 100m Backstroke. Grace 6th and Ant 2nd. Hardly any difference between 4th and 6th place for the girls unfortunately Grace missed out and finished last. Ant however finished 2nd which was a great result considering he is only 12, there was tough competition here for this swim with Jon Lee in great form. Event 23 & 24 15’s 100m Butterfly. Becky 5th and Harry 3rd. Not Becky’s night a little off the pace nothing in 3rd to 6th. Harry recovering from tonsillitis gave his all for the team. Points at half way: Leicester Penguins 104 Derby Phoenix 104 Nuneaton 102 Stourbridge 86 City of Coventry 80 Stratford Sharks 68 Event 25 & 26 Open 100m Backstroke. Lauren 1st and James 6th. Lauren in her second individual cruised to her second win of the night. James not happy with himself . Event 27 & 28 11’s 50m Breaststroke. Kate 3rd and Joe 5th. Back to the A team for Kate and fine result too. Joe’s place decided by just over a second from 2nd place to 5th. Event 29 & 30 13’s 100m Butterfly. Becky and Alex both 4th places. Becky also back in the team found the second length hard work in the 50m pool. Alex grabbed a P.B. in his favoured event and actually was faster than in a 25m pool. Excellent. Event 31 & 32 15’s 100m Freestyle. Ellis 3rd and Harry 1st. Great swim from Ellis, gave it her all totally breathless at the end. Splendid result for Harry good time too. Event 33 & 34 Open 100m Breaststroke. Nat 6th and Phil 3rd. Big swim from Nat, very nervous before last place did not justify her time and effort. Phil as usual very powerful swim, some very tough opposition in this age group. Event 35 & 36 11’s 50m Freestyle. Sophie 3rd and Joe 6th. Good swim from Sophie, just missing second place in her second individual. Joe did his best however this is not his favourite event, and I am sure Sam will be back soon Event 37 & 38 13’s 100m Freestyle. Sarah 5th and Graham 2nd. Sarah, unusually a little off the pace will do better next time. Graham second individual a fine second place with a cracking time. Well Done to you both Event 39 & 40 15’s 100m Breaststroke. Charlotte 3rd and Adam 6th. Charlotte, not too pleased with her time, it was points that we were after. Adam unfortunately touched last after a great first 50, there was nothing in 5th and 6th Event 41 & 42 Open 100m Freestyle. Laura 4th and Matt 6th Laura, the effort of the evening as far as I’m concerned driving all the way from Cardiff so that she could swim for her club. Thanks very much we needed you. Matt in his first swim for the club came last by fingertips, however not a bad time. Event 43 & 44 11’s 4x50m Medley Relay. 1st and 5th. Great swim from the girls very pleasing, the lads being well off the pace and missing Sam desperately, we can make points up here. Event 45 & 46 13’s 4x50m Freestyle Relay. 5th and 1st. Well done girls, may change the order you can go faster. Dream team of the night and very pleasing for me. Alex, Jon, Ant and ‘G’ make the double for their relays. Excellent Event 47 & 48 15’s 4x50m Medley Relay. 3rd and 4th. Great swims from both teams again against extremely tough opposition. Well done Event 49 & 50 Open 4x50m Freestyle Relay. 3rd and 6th. Last events of the evening, most of the 15 girls swim again here and did very well to come 3rd. Again the lads a little disappointing better luck next time. Final Points Leicester Penguins 204 Nuneaton 187 Derby Phoenix 186.5 Stourbridge 162 Stratford Sharks 154 City of Coventry 151 This really was an excellent result for the club against a top class opposition. Fingers crossed we might get a 25M pool in the next round. Thanks to all the helpers Mary, Steve, Bob, Stew and especially Suzanne who really got thrown in the deep end making sure all the swimmers were in the right places so that Stew and I could cheer on the team as we had drawn lane 2 and that was as far away as could be. I see that the B team swam well too and that Becky has picked her swimmers of the week. I think that’s a great idea and will do the same. Best swimmer goes to Lauren Collins in a class of her own. Best team goes to the 13 Boys for their double relay victories Alex, ’G’, Jon and Ant all P.b.s. too. Best effort that has to be Laura this time for her long drive. Let’s see who it will be in the next round. Jason
|
|
|