WORCESTER WINTER LEAGUE

 

18 APRIL 2010 – THE FINAL

 

The team:

Ellie C Bethan Olivia Katie Emma Nat Ellie L Hannah Sophie Becki C Becky S

Aaron Joe Ed Adam Tom Mc Myles Jack Sam T Tom A Tom B Rich Nick Harry

 

Tough competition for this one but our hopes were high and our voices loud.

 

2 wins out of our first 3 events was a fabulous start thanks to Hannah and Sam T.  Hannah fighting hard all the way to take an outstanding win and Sam T putting in an extraordinary time that had Stew doing a jig!  Holding mid range for the next few races, Joe and the U15s Medley team (Becki C, Jack, Ellie L, Sam T, Sophie and Tom A) finished off the first quarter of the gala on a high taking 10 of a possible 12 points.  So with 10 races gone we were sitting in 3^rd position behind Halesowen A and Worcester A.

 

The kids, as ever, rose to the challenge, taking 48 points in this quarter.  Wins came from Nat on the Fly – an outstanding 5 seconds clear; Becki C swimming up on the Open Back with a clear 2 second margin and taking the Fly in her own age group; Aaron pushing hard all the way and a well deserved 1^st place; and Emma driving to the finish to take the win.  We had moved into 2^nd place and back to 3^rd again but getting ever closer!

 

The next 10 races saw us fighting hard for every point.  Great wins came from our Open Medley Team (Becki C, Rich, Ellie L, Tom B, Becky S and Harry) who took it on the touch; Ellie L who battled stroke for stroke and came out victorious, and Aaron who annihilated the opposition by a winning 3 second margin on the breaststroke.  So after 30 events we were still in 3^rd place but only 1 point behind 2^nd placed Worcester.

 

Everything to play for in the final 10 races. Becki C got us off to a great start with a 5 second victory in her own age group backstroke, with Ellie L (swimming up an age group) and Rich doing the double act on the breaststroke to put maximum points on the board.

 

Freestyle relays to go and we were trailing Worcester by 3 points.  Our 11s took to the water (Bethan, Aaron, Olivia, Ed, Ellie and Joe) taking 2^nd place and putting us equal on points for 2^nd place. Next came the 15s freestyle team (Becki C, Sam T, Sophie, Tom A, Hannah and Jack), again taking 5 points to nose us one point ahead of Worcester and into 2^nd place.  The 13s were next (Emma, Tom Mc, Katie, Adam, Nat and Myles) taking 4 points and putting us in joint 2^nd place with Worcester.  Everything to play for in the final relay and with a silver medal at stake the starting beep sounded and our Open freestylers took off (Hannah, Tom B, Sophie, Harry, Becky S and Nick).  There was nothing between us and Worcester all the way and every swimmer giving it everything they’d got.  The time difference was just 0.12 as the teams touched the wall but Worcester pipped us!

 

So the final scores were:

 

Halesowen A                                    198 points

Worcester A                          176 points

Stourbridge A                     175 points

Redditch                                118 points

Halesowen B                                      91 points

Haden Hill                               80 points

 

My Team of the night are my Under 11s – Bethan, Aaron, Ellie C, Joe, Olivia and Ed.  This team gave their heart and soul today and, against tough opposition, in my eyes they shone through.  Stroke of the night came from our Backstroke swimmers (Katie, Adam, Becki C, Nick, Bethan, Aaron and Tom A, taking 80% of the available points on individual swims.

 

Swimmer of the night was a really tough decision. I had several swimmers: Aaron, Rich, Hannah, Emma, Nat, Ellie L and Becki C who all gained maximum points from their individual events.  But with 3 individual victories my swimmer of the night is Becki Cole.  Well done Becki.

 

In terms of the boys or girls – they’ve done it again - the Girls got it!!

 

I was very proud today to stand on poolside and see the dedication, commitment and shear drive and determination all of my swimmers showed.  You are an absolute credit to Stourbridge.  I’m sad to say that today we say goodbye to Jack – you have made an excellent contribution to the team and will be greatly missed.

 

Thanks, as ever, go to my helpers who turn out time and time again for me.  I would also like to say thanks to our hosts for an extremely efficiently run gala. 

 

So as the ripples settle on the pool, we say goodbye to another year in the Worcester Winter League, but in the words of Arnie – we’ll be back!!!!!