Swimming
Sharks show some promise

STRATFORD Sharks juniors joined teams from four other clubs at Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre to compete in the Ginger North Relay Gala.

The girls 10/under team of Caitlin Craddock, Isobel Foster, Ella Vickers and Madeline Hoare enjoyed the most successful evening with second places in each of their events which were 4 x 25m freestyle, 4 x 25m breaststroke and 4 x 25m medley.

Combining with the 10/under boy’s team of Ben Jones, Tom Beamer, Andrew Hall and Nick Evans they took another second place in the mixed 8 x 25m freestyle.

The boys had previously taken third place in the 4 x 25m freestyle with each of the swimmers recording split times inside their PB’s.

Ben, Tom and Andrew were joined by Kieran Speechly in the 4 x 25m breaststroke to take yet another third place.

Finally, Kieran, Nick Evans, Ben and Andrew were third in the 4 x 25m medley.

There was another hard fought second place for the 9 years girls team of Evie Thompson, Laura Griffiths, Kathryn Hughes and Abigail Boff in the 4 x 25m breaststroke.

Freya Clarke replaced Kathryn Hughes as they took another second place in the 4 x 25m freestyle, while Abigail, Evie, Freya and Kathryn combined well for third in the 4 x 25m mixed stroke relay.

Not to be outdone, the 9 years boy’s team of Morgan Evans, Guy Joseph, Cole Lyson and Luke Palmer grabbed second place in the 4 x 25m breaststroke.

They went on to finish third in the 4 x 25m freestyle and 4 x 25m mixed stroke relay before teaming- up with Evie Thompson, Laura Griffiths, Kathryn Hughes and Freya Clarke to take another third place in the 8 x 25m freestyle.

The 12/under boy’s team of Owen Lawton, Robin Hughes, Robert Forysiak and Nick Evans scored their highest place of the day with third in the 4 x 50m breaststroke.

The 11/under girls team of Charlotte Clements, Isabelle Callaghan, Jess Martindale and Mai Castle saved their best performance until late in the gala to take a fine second place in the 4 x 25m freestyle.

Despite each of the girls in the 12/under team - Erin Freeman, Lauren Penny, Jenny Forysiak and Karina Norris - swimming good times in their individual specialist stroke, they did not manage to combine to get better than fifth place.

It was a similar story for the boy’s team drawn from Robin Hughes, Owen Lawton, Felix Gallagher, Robert Forysiak, Owen Taplin and Matt Vickers.

For the first team event of 2012 it was a reasonable performance with some good individual swims.