Gallant swimming team in with chance of promotion (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Gallant swimming team in with chance of promotion

AFTER finishing in a gallant third position at their final event of 2002, enthusiastic members of Cirencester Swimming Club now have to wait to see if they have won promotion to Division Two next season.

The local swimming club were the hosts for this Speedo League Division Three final, which was held at the new Gloucester Leisure Centre on Saturday, December 14.

As always, Cirencester started confidently with the relay races which are their strong events.

These first ten races produced several good performances from Town's girls' and boys' U11 freestyle, the girls' and boys' U13 medley and the ladies' open medley.

While the individual events which follow are always tough, Carl Collett (50m breast-stroke U13) had an excellent win and Lauren Connor took a good second place (50m breaststroke U13).

And Jessica Barry and Charlie Ingham both chipped in with third places in the U11 backstroke.

After 18 events, this put Town into the lead with 95 points, leaving Bristol Henleaze (88) and Cardiff B (87) not too far behind.

However, Town hopes were raised in the next section of the gala with Fabienne Collett's win in the U11s' 50m butterfly.

She was soon supported by a second place for Jenny Webster in the 50m backstroke (U13).

Despite their efforts, Ciren-cester had slipped to third place on 124 points and were now behind Newton Abbott 125 and Cardiff B 126 after 28 events.

However, two wins for the girls in breaststroke events, Fabienne Collett (U11s) and Helen Soutter (ladies' open) kept Town in contention.

And Eve Barry's first place (U13 freestyle), along with another fine result for Helen Soutter (second place U5 breaststroke), saw Cirencester maintaining their position after 42 events.

Behind Cardiff B, who led with 218 points, were Newton Abbotts 205 and Cirencester 192.

With the last eight events being relays , Town had an outside chance of pulling back a place.

In spite of an excellent performance by the whole team, both in the water and support on pool-side, along with wins from girls' U11 medley and U13 freestyle, second place for boys U11 medley and third for the ladies' open free-style, the gap proved too large and Cirencester finished third.

Final positions: Cardiff B 268, Newton Abbott 240, Cirencester 233, Salisbury 227, Bridgwater 219, Dawlish 214, Bristol Henleaze 212, Melksham 175.