Cirencester swimmers work hard to clinch third place in C final (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester swimmers work hard to clinch third place in C final

CIRENCESTER Swimming Club came up against Wellington, Bridgwater, Norton Radstock, Frome and Bristol Central in the C final of the 2004 Cotswold League at Nailsea on Saturday.

With five other teams competing, they were going to have to work hard for first place finishes.

Many of the races proved close and tight with the battle for the final positions keenly fought throughout the evening.

Bristol Central were the eventual winners, finishing on 221 points with Frome in second place on 201. Cirencester were third on 191, Norton Radstock just behind in fourth on 183, Wellington fifth on 166 and Bridgwater sixth on 103.

Several Cirencester youngsters had to move up an age group in both the individual and relay events, which made for a great effort from a relatively young, inexperienced team.

Mia Aylett and Rachel Sherrington took the only two first places for the Cirencester girls (13/U freestyle and 11/U breaststroke).

And first positions were also won for the boys by Charlie Allen (13/U breaststroke), Tomos Wyn-Jones (11/U fly) and Chris Reynolds (13/U backstroke).

There were also several good second places achieved by James Collingwood (11/U breaststroke), Emma Davenport (open IM), Matt Reynolds (11/U free), Georgina Holder (13/U breaststroke) and Pete Brennen (13/U fly).

The relay teams did well, picking up seven second places. The 11/U boys - Liam Marriott, James Collingwood, Tomos Wyn-Jones and Matt Reynolds - were second in both the freestyle and medley relay events.

This was a feat matched by the 13/U boys' team of Dan Beebee, Pete Brennen, Charlie Allen and Chris Reynolds and the 15/U girls' team of Emma Eldridge, Jenny Manners, Jenny Webster, Emma Davenport and Catherine Shelley.

The girls' open team of Vicky Herrington, Laura Mingins, Ally Carter and Jenny Webster, finished second in freestyle relay.

Coach Andy Fotherby is delighted with his team's performance and is looking forward to building on this for next year's Cotswold League competition.

At the Three Counties Invitation Gala, that took place in Wolverhampton in mid-May, two club swimmers won county colours when they were picked to represent Gloucestershire.

Fabi Collett won the girls' 10/11 50m fly in a time of 33.28 and Dan Beebee was fourth in the boys' 12/13 100m freestyle.

They also did well for their county in the relays with Glo'shire finishing third behind winners Staffordshire and second placed Worcestershire.