Swimming:
Swimmers secure Arena League joy

RUGBY Swimming Club hosted the second round of the National Arena League at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Centre at the weekend when they triumphed against some very strong opposition.

It soon became evident that Rugby’s six rivals had some extremely fast swimmers but it also became clear that they may not have been backed up by strength in depth.

A team talk to this effect from the seniors and newly appointed club captains helped instill confidence into the Rugby swimmers.

Events of this nature over 50 races are not won by winning more races than your opposition, though it does help, instead it is far better to make sure that high placings are secured across the range, which Rugby certainly demonstrated to good effect on Saturday.

To put it into context, Rugby stormed home with 275 points, to Orion’s 266, well clear of Droitwich with 228. Rugby had 18x1sts, 13x2nds and five thirds, compared to, 21, ten and six respectively for Orion.

The differences being Rugby had one DQ, Orion had four, and Rugby never finished lower than fifth, whereas Orion had two sevenths and a few sixths.

Rugby won eight out of 16 relays, with four seconds also being secured.

Those winning both their age group and the 4x50 medley were the girls 13u, the boys 13u, the boys 15u, the boys 9/11 won one, as did the ladies open team.

Nothing more epitomises the improving team spirit and passion as the rather idiosyncratic mix that make up this team.

A senior masters swimmer, a nationally ranked Synchro swimmer, the 15-year-old club captain, two 14-year-olds and a 13-year-old who competed in a total of six races.

Rugby were always in the lead at every points tot up, at first this was a bit of a surprise, as it seemed as if Orion had had the better of the early exchanges, but Rugby’s consistency told.

The team was made up by: 11s - Ceri House, Aaron Kilkaldy, Eva Rath, Adam Wanless, Georgia Godding, Matt Seaton, Isobel Dunnerdale and Dan Carey; 13s - Abi Bolton, Jack Carey, Ellen Armeson, Rhys James, Ellen Harrington, William Dunnderdale, Megan Williams and Olivia Gyatt; 15s - Anna Shepherd, Gleb Popov, Cerys Jones, Tom Parker, Matt Laity, Noah Slinn; Seniors - Karen Bates, Dan Hartup, Lucy Rouse, Dave Hepworth, Ross Turner, Simon Rigg.

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