SPEEDO LEAGUE – ROUND 2 – 11^TH November 2006

Bridgwater Swimming Club was up against tough opposition again in the second round of the National Speedo League. All but one of the teams they competed against were higher than them in the league before the gala commenced, however this didn’t dampen spirits and it was clear from the start that Bridgwater were not going make it easy for their opposition. Despite confusion at the start as to whether Bridgwater had been sent by the league to the correct venue the swimmers really raised the roof with their incredible team spirit. Team Captains Kate Trunks and Greg Kyd did a great job in getting swimmers going, after being asked to fill in for the Club Captains who were absent due to other commitments.

Rachael Barr got Bridgwater started by swimming up an age group in the Open 100 Individual Medley, finishing in a respectable 4^th place, just shy of her personal best time but it was in the team relays where Bridgwater really got started with the Girls 13/U Medley team of Lucy Cornish, Amy Pring, Jess Barham, and Alicia Symes taking Bridgwater’s first win of the evening, while the boys team of Luke Parchment, Tom Lane, Nick Constable, and Adam Parchment were just pipped to first place but broke the club record as did the girls and boys 15/U Freestyle relay teams of Jess Fournier, Hayley McArthur, Ellie Cooksley, Rachael Barr and Liam Moore, Tom Yeo, David Webber, and Luke Parchment. Lucy Cornish was the first individual winner in the 13/U 50 Back Stroke, Nick Constable repeated Lucy’s success by winning the boys 50 Back Stroke and later by winning the 50 Butterfly.

The final individual winner was Adam Parchment in the 13/U 50 Freestyle however the swimmers weren’t finished and continued to put in some great swims, in the closing relay events with wins and club records in both the girls and boys 13/U freestyle relays of Lucy Cornish, Alicia Symes, Jess Barham, and Amy Pring and Adam Parchment, Mathew Chapman, Nick Constable, and Luke Parchment.

While both the girls and boys 15/U Medley teams of Ellie Cooksley, Rachael Barr, Jess Fournier, and Hayley McArthur and David Webber, Nick Constable, Tom Yeo, and Liam Moore recorded club records.

The finale result was Swim Swansea 254, Barry 193, Bridgwater 177, Bishopsworth 154, Carmarthenshire B 143, and Cwmbran 107. Bridgwater had 10 personal best times, 7 Relay best times, and 6 wins.

Swimmer of meet went to Jess Fournier for an incredible 4 second personal best time in the 100 Butterfly and for her contribution to two club relay records, but a special mention has to go to Kate Trunks for her great leadership of the girls, as fill in captain.

Head Coach Ricky Hayes Said “The swimmers were great they were really out to prove a point both in their swimming and in the team spirits, their attitudes were great, really amazing.”