MILTON KEYNES LEAGUE FINAL
Saturday saw the Windsor Swimming Club Junior A team compete in the final round of the Premier Division of the Milton Keynes District Junior Speedo League.
They won the first round with a clear 11 point lead, as clubs were eliminated, the tougher 2nd round saw a sound 2nd place, which was enough to qualify for the final, swam at the Hayes Swimming Pool.
A nervous start, the 9-12yrs swimmers could only watch their relays fail to take a lead in the first few events of the competition. However they slowly picked up and the girls 11yrs 4X1 freestyle relay Alex Kaye, Jessica Keene, Georgia Morrison and Flo Claringbold, saw a glimpse of hope when they took a 2nd place, losing at the touch by a 8/100’s of a second. The boys 11yrs team led by Alistair Bingham, Andrew Lane, Crispin Imani and anchored by Alex Farrell stormed through the field to win by a clear 5metres.
A plucky performance by Danielle Moore in the 11yrs breast saw another 3rd place, but this still wasn’t enough, and after 13 events WSC were in last place.
Undeterred Team Coach Paula McCloud ignored the slow start, and making best use of their National Swimmers, Flo Claringbold and Alex Farrell, and the strength and depth of the team, bolstered by a strong team spirit, they drove on. .
Alex Farrell won his 50m back 34.36, whilst Alistair Bingham won his 50m fly, slamming into the finish to win by just ½ a second for 34.01. There were some strong swims in the breastroke, from 9yr olds, Philippa Trowbridge, who came 3rd in and Albert Karavis who clinched 4th. Moving up the 10yrs backstrokers Morgan Lake and Crispin Imani both finished in 2nd place.
Points near the half way mark in the competition had now moved WSC into 5th Place, and the pace just moved up a notch. The 11yrs flyers Alex Kaye narrowly lost 2nd place in 35.12 whilst Alistair Bingham missed victory at the touch by a mere 6/100’s sec. Lauren Childs in the 12yrs free fought line across the pool, for a 3rd place. Girls 10yrs fly Cassie Pratley flew to 2nd with a very fast 39.65.
Flo Claringbold and Alex Farrell then took their turn in the pool, and won both 11yrs freetsyle events, in some very impressive times; Flo 30.50 and Alex cracking the 30second barrier for 29.16. Straight back into the pool Flo then clinched a 2nd in the 12yrs breast 39.57. The 9yrs fly duo Emily Scarles raced to 4th place, and Mathew Bailey took a 3rd. Morgan Lake went on to win her 10yrs free in 32.88, in another trade mark race to the line. In the same event Crispin Imani came 2nd 34.19. Florence raced again – another 1st in her favoured 50m breast for a clear 2 second lead 39.52.. Alex raced to another 1st in the older faster, 12yrs back, for a narrowest of victory in 34.08.
At the ¾ stage of the competition, startlingly the team had now surged forward into joint 3rd place. Every point counted, and once more the relays would decide their fate. 9yrs relays Libby Scammell, Philippa Trowbridge, Emily Scarles and Katherine Delaney held on, whilst the boys Nicolas Basford Albert Karavis, Mathew Bailey and Tom Robesan came 3rd. 10yrs girls Cassie Pratley, Danielle Moore, Sasha Bailey and anchor leg Morgan Lake moved through the field to finish 3rd. 11yrs girls IM Lucy Campbell, Florence Claringbold, Alex Kaye and Jessica Keene, took one better and finished 2nd! Girls 12yrs freestyle Olivia Moore, Amy Cross, Georgia Morrision and Lauren Childs won points in a had a hard fought 4th place.
The lasts 2 relays really clinched the competition, boys 12yrs free Piers Unsworth Neil, Alfie Horn, Alistair Bingham and Alex Farrell, stormed through the field to win in a very fast 56.35 Final event the Squadron 8X1 mixed took the pool by storm and won at the touch. The points were made up across the team, and deservedly they finished in a very proud 2nd place. Runners up to the victors Teddington, who would now represent the South in the National Semis later in the year.
Final Score
Teddington 193
WSC 180
Ruislip & Northwood 179.5
Harrow & Wealdstone 174
Ealing 167
Seabyrds 134
