Seniors take points to stay at top of division

By workex2

BOLDMERE'S senior A team remained top of Division One of the National Arena (West Midlands) League after some outstanding performances in Worcester last weekend.

They were able to outclass swimmers from Worcester, City of Coventry, Derby Phoenix and Chase.

In the first event, Holly Lynch took first place in the girls' open 200m individual medley, which was the first of 20 individual wins for the team on the night.

But it was Boldmere's relay teams that took centre stage by emphatically winning the next eight events.

In the 11-year-olds and under freestyle, Beth Grant managed to pull back six metres on her third leg before handing over level to Margaret Gately to take the honours in a team that included first timers Megan Oakley and nine-year-old Kate Davies.

Two quartets broke both club records in each of their freestyle and medley relays – Ben Campbell, Charlie Hackett, Matt Price and Jake Dixon in the 11-year-and-under race with Dixon joining Josh Winnicott, Bradley Lynch and Jordan Youngman in the 13-year-and-under category.

Emma Smith, Emily Gordon, Penny Whittingham and Givenchy Sneakes broke the fifth record of the day in their 13-year-and-under medley.

In the individual events brother and sister Bradley and Holly Lynch both won two events each with the former slicing more than a second off his 100m freestyle, reducing his time to 57.11.

In recognition they were both awarded with gala stars by Ash Cox. Other individual wins came from Jake Dixon (11-year 50m backstroke and fly), Charlie Hackett (11-year 50m breaststroke and freestyle) and Alix Swinhoe (15-year 100m fly in new personal best and 15-year and open 100m breaststroke).

Also claiming victories were Emma Smith (13-year 100m back and freestyle), Emily Gordon (13-year 100m breaststroke), Josh Winnicott (13-year 100m breaststroke), Beth Grant (11-year 50m breaststroke) and Margaret Gately (11-year 50m freestyle in new personal best).

Penny Whittingham, 13, and Phil Hewitt, 15, both set club records in the 100m fly, with further personal bests being recorded by Beth Grant (50m backstroke), Luke Robinson (15-year 100m backstroke) and Jordan Youngman (13-year 100m backstroke).

After the 32 individual swims, the final eight relays saw Boldmere increase their lead further with three more first spots. They managed to finish 31 gala points ahead of City of Coventry, who had a total of 253.

The team took the six points ahead of the final round at Coventry in December.

Boldmere's senior B team produced an impressive performance in Hereford, finishing second behind the hosts.

They beat Kingsbury Aquarius A, Eckington, Rykneld and Droitwich Dolphins, and the Orcas increased their chances of joining their A team colleagues in division one meetings next season.

There were individual wins for Luke Davies (13-years 100m breaststroke), Katie Richardson (13-years 100m back), Daniel Badger (15-years 100m fly) and Alice Dearing (13-years 100m fly).

And there was also victory for Daniel Lynch-Davies, Jack Swinhoe, Joel Cunningham and Ben Stanford in the 11-years-and-under medley.