The Mercian Summer League

Round One - Leamington 29th April 2006

Despite it being a Bank holiday and there being another Gala on the same night Wyre Forest fielded a fairly experienced team. However due to a lack of 14 year olds there was a lot of swimming up an age group. Coaches Julian Mountford and Lucy Walters both swam in the open events. However there was a shortage of 10 year old boys so we were unable to enter the relays for that age group.There were a healthy number of PB's and 1st and 2nd places.

Emma Levitt showed that despite not being able to train as much as she would like she had still got what it takes to win. She won the Girl's Open 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle. Oche Igoche (10) won both his individual races in his age group and Emily Goodman won the Girls 50m breaststroke in the 10 year old category with a PB of 48.32. Nick Carmichael (Captain) also won the Open 100m breast. Olivia Ward gained  4 PBs despite being out of action for several weeks after crushing her fingers badly. Richard Harrison also gained 3 PBs. Well done to all the swimmers.

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Round Two - Tamworth 3rd June 2006

36 Personal Best times were achieved at this Gala. Wyre Forest came 6th with 137 points.  Unfortunately many swimmers were swimming up one or even two age groups due to a lack of senior swimmers. Everyone rose to the occasion and put in some wonderful performances.

Verity Thorley (14) had a very good gala achieving 1st place in the 14/u 100m back with a PB of 1.20.26, 2nd place in the 14/u 100m breast and a creditable 4th place in the 100m open back. Katherine Whelan swam a superb 100 m breaststroke in the 12/u category with a PB of 1.31.92 gaining 1st place. Olivia Ward also gained 1st place with a PB of 1.32.38 in the 12/u 100m back.

Congratulations to all the swimmers.

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Final Round - Tamworth 1st July 2006

After the second round of the League, Wyre Forest were lying in 21^st place out of 24 teams and was therefore placed in the 4^th final. All previous points are discounted in the final round so that they become straight finals. Wyre Forest came 2^nd in its final with 214 points putting us into 20^th position overall. 1^st place went to Etwall Eagles with 258 points, 3^rd place Oakengates 189 and 4^th Redditch 186. Warley and Stratford Sharks B did not show which could have had something to do with England palying Portugal in the semi-finals of the World Cup!

Despite not having enough swimmers in each age group meaning that there weren’t enough 10-year-olds to form a relay team and having to swim over age swimmers (OAS) in two events Wyre Forest did extremely well.

First places went to Phillip Harrison in the Open I.M. with a PB of 1.11.04 and the Open 100m freestyle with a PB of 1.01.31. Philip also helped the Open Medley and Freestyle relay teams to victory. Teams comprised of Ross Morton, Nick Carmichael, Philip Harrison (PB 14.24) and Josh Bradley and Morton, Tim Watson, Carmichael (PB 12.57) and Harrison (PB 13.03) respectively.
 1^st place to the 10/u girls Freestyle relay team of Emily Goodman, Amy Tristram (PB 18.84), Alex Styles and Lauren Offley (PB 19.28). Connor Allen (10) came 1^st in the 12/u 100m breaststroke. Gemma Hutchings and Nick Carmichael came 1^st in the 100m Open Fly. Ross Morton came 1^st in the 100m Open Backstroke. Katie Parker (11) gained 1^st place in the 50m 12/u fly with a PB of 38.92 and the 100m 12/u free with a PB of 1.13.55.

There were 22 personal best times overall.

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