Date Created: Sun 11th Oct 2009
Worcester Swimming Club put in a strong performance in Round One of the National League, now sponsored by Arena. Faced with a tough draw against two of last year's Finalists, the swimmers rose to the occasion to finish a highly creditable third.
The final points were City of Derby 262, Calverton & Bingham 241, Worcester 191, Northgate 161 and Ludlow 141 (Chesterfield withdrew).
This is the premier team competition in the West Midlands and with several international swimmers on show - including Jess Sylvester, part of GB's successful 4x100 F/C relay Team at the Beijing Olympics - the standard was unsurprisingly very high.
Oddly, of all the five Clubs, Worcester was the only one not to win a single race! However, without exception, the whole team swam well - close to or inside their Personal Best times - and through consistency, strength in depth and a real fighting spirit, the swimmers managed to all but guarantee their place in the prestigious Division One again for next year.
There were many fine performances - though those of Sam Allen and Alice O'Toole stood out. Sam recorded a monster PB of 1.05.90 to finish 2nd in the 13/u 100m Freestyle while Alice was on fire in the 13/u 100m Backstroke with an impressive 1.12.66.
Many of the squad were making their first appearance in the National League and in the 11/U age group, there were very encouraging debuts for Harry Sykes (2nd in the 50m Breaststroke & 50m Freestyle), Sebastian Jerrum (2nd in the 50m Butterfly) and Chloe Mabbett (2nd & 3rd respectively in the 50m Freestyle & Backstroke).
In the 15/U age group, Greg Everest produced an excellent PB of 1.08.86 for 2nd in the 100m Backstroke whilst the busiest swimmer of the night Tabitha Monkhouse picked up gutsy 2nd & 3rd places in the 100m Butterfly & Breaststroke, having already swum the Open 100m Butterfly in a PB of 1.11.72.
In the relays, it was the 13/U age group who enjoyed the greatest success - with both the boys & the girls picking up 2nd places in the 4x50m Medley & Freestyle Relays. Cara Lee, Lydia Tainty, Alice O'Toole & Becky Hodson were only denied first places by an exceptional City of Derby quartet while the boys proved the surprise package of the night with Chris Edwards, Matthew Rochell, James Marsh, Jack Weston & Sam Allen combining brilliantly.
Team spirit was excellent - and again the Club proved easily the best supported. With the Club Captains unavailable for the gala, others led by example - in particular Poppy Bramford, Hollie Horton, Rupert Monkhouse, James Allen & Greg Everest.
Head Coach Mark Stowe was delighted: "There was a real intensity in the swimmers' performances. Incredibly we won all but one of the tight finishes and with the swimmers recording PB's in over 40% of the races, we progress to Round Two full of confidence".
The full team was: Francesca Daniels, Nixie Turner, Tazmin Pugh, Chloe Mabbett, Alice O'Toole, Becky Hodson, Lydia Tainty, Cara Lee, Hannah Watts, Sarah Cowin, Tabitha Monkhouse, Poppy Bramford, Hollie Horton, Thomas Wong, Josh Smallman, Harry Sykes, Sebastian Jerrum, James Marsh, Sam Allen, Chris Edwards, Matthew Rochell, Jack Weston, Daniel Tipper, Jonathan Edwards, Luke McCluskey, Greg Everest, James Allen, Joel Smith, Sergey Mandradzhiyski, Ivo Mandradzhiyski & Rupert Monkhouse.