WORCESTER WINTER LEAGUE

 

21 FEBRUARY 2009 – ROUND 2

 

The team:

Kay B Laura C Becki C Beth D Ellie L Sophie L Emma P Aimee S Lauren S Becky S Emily T

Joe B Tom B Nick C George H Joe H Jack H Adam H Matt J Jake K Jon L Harry L Richard S Sam T

 

Now this one was always going to be tough.  To take on Halesowen, with their home pool advantage, is always a big ask but here we go ….

 

Event 1 – the opener – would it set the scene? – Oh yes – our first 6 points on the sheet thanks to a tremendous effort from Aimee, George, Emma, Adam, Kay and Joe.  I thought we were going to take a 2^nd place here but every swimmer put in maximum effort for our first win.

 

We had to wait until event 7 for our next 1^st place, with Tom powering through to take it on the touch.  A convincing win from Adam on the freestyle was starting to lift us and gave us a slender 1 point lead over our closest rivals, Halesowen A.

 

Our 15s medley team got off to a great start from Becki C, Jack opened up a lead, Ellie and Jon maintained the distance, Becky S held on and with a small lead it was Matt’s turn to take to the water – but disaster struck and Matt slipped on the poolside (no blocks on that end of the pool) and although he put in a tremendous effort, he was just touched out.  This was sheer bad luck but a great effort from the team.

 

After being down on the first length, Beth put in a fantastic effort and gave it absolutely everything to take a comfortable win in the end on her Fly.  Then came Sam, never looking in any doubt and taking the win by a fabulous 6 second margin – what a swim!  Becki C completed a hat trick of consecutive wins, swimming up in the Open age group on her back – she battled hard and deserved the win.

 

The next win came from Adam on backstroke, his second of the night, he was pushed by the Wyre Forest swimmer but came out tops.  Emily put in a beautiful swim to put yet another 6 points on the board. 

 

Now at this point we’d nudged into a 5 point lead – dare I begin to hope that this would be our night?

 

Ellie and Jack were convincing winners again on the breaststroke, both by over a 3 second margin.  It truly is fabulous to watch these 2 swimmers put in incredible breaststroke swims time and time again.

 

Harry looked impressive on his freestyle to take his victory by a second margin.  This is some achievement in one of more fiercely contested events.  Emma was never in any doubt on her breaststroke, she just cruised in to take the win.  I have to say Emma that you always make this stroke look so effortless.

 

After being down on the first length, I saw a blur go past my eyes as Beth stormed through to take the win on her freestyle.  This was a very gutsy performance from our little rocket – well done Beth.

 

Next came Sam on the freestyle.  Now having seen the form he was in, I knew this was going to be a great race to watch and Sam, you didn’t disappoint.  You had us all screaming on that last length as you fought on every stroke, taking a well deserved win – I know I was exhausted just watching!!

 

Our breaststrokers were at it again and this time it was Sophie and Richard – double tops again and both with clear water when they hit the wall.  Very impressive from both our swimmers.

 

So with 4 relay events to go and 7 points in hand I’m now getting very nervous.  We’ve been here before and come up in reserve place.

 

Here goes …………..

 

4 2^nd places in the relays were enough to secure the victory by 3 points!  So the final scores were:

 

Stourbridge A                     202 points

Halesowen A                         199 points

Wyre Forest                           137 points

Bromsgrove                           105 points

Perry Beeches                        99 points

Halesowen B                           98 points

 

This was an amazing gala to watch.  We took 15 1^st places out of a potential 40 and we scored on average 5 points per event – that is just amazing!!  (sorry I know I’ve used the “amazing” word a few times, but it really was!!!)

 

Age group of the night is a tie between our 13s and our Open swimmers, our free and fly swimmers for the 13s were awesome taking maximum points from 4 swims, with our breaststrokers for the Open taking maximum points.

 

Stroke of the night – yet again our breaststrokers, taking an amazing 6 1^st places from a potential 8 swims.

 

Swimmer of the night – now we had some outstanding swims from all our team members but Adam H, Sam T, and Beth D were particularly magnificent in their individual events, taking maximum points from their swims.  Well done to all 3 of you and thank you for such a tremendous effort.

 

Team of the night is always a difficult one to chose but for me it has to be the 11 year olds.   They were tremendous all night, battling to put every point they could on the board. 

 

In terms of the boys or girls – NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not again – it’s the girls!!!  Come on lads, after the last round I thought you’d ave em this time!!

 

It was a great competition tonight and it was made even more special by a number of our B team swimmers who came to Halesowen after their gala to add their support – thanks folks – it was great to have you cheering with us.

 

What a gala, what a night, WHAT A TEAM!!!

 

Jason