RIDINGS LEAGUE 2008
as at 25th May 2008
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There are now four competing Ridings League. With the introduction of the new 3rd Division, the old 1st Division is now known as the Premier League, where Scarborough Swimming Club compete.
SCARBOROUGH WIN FIRST LEAGUE GALA.
Gala 1 - Scarborough Indoor Pool - 19th April 2008
Scarborough Swimming Club were the hosts for the first Ridings Premiership gala of the year at Scarborough Indoor pool, and were defending their league title won last year. South Holderness, newly promoted New Earswick and local rivals Kingfishers were the competing teams. All 4 clubs brought plenty of supporters and the indoor pool was nearly full to capacity reflecting the keen interest and rivalry that exists in this league.
The early medley relays were very close with all four teams having wins and there was little difference in the points total after these initial races. Scarborough then began to dominate the individual events with some very fine swims and the team had built up a 20 point lead over their closest rival, South Holderness, at the end of the individual swims. There followed the freestyle relays which again were very close and honours shared within the teams. However, Scarborough finished the gala as convincing winners and have made an excellent start to the league season.
The star performer of the evening was Scarborough's 9 year old girl, Jace Cappleman who followed on her recent success at the Yorkshire Age Group Championships and was in record breaking form to win both the 10/u freestyle and butterfly events in sensational style, smashing the league records for these events which have stood for 13 years since 1995.
There were also excellent swims from 4 other swimmers who recorded double wins in the individual events. David Couch in the 12/u boys continues to improve and won the freestyle in (31.71) and the breaststroke in (42.13). Jack Colley had an identical success in the 14/u boys winning a closely contested freestyle (27.85) and the breaststroke in (36.73), both personal best performances. Samantha Gibson is a welcome addition to the team this year and travels regularly from Whitby to train with the Scarborough Squad. She showed a glimpse of her ability by winning the 12/u breaststroke (41.61) and the butterfly (36.12). The final double winner was Hannah Broadley who was a dominant swimmer in her 14/u age group all night and took the butterfly in (33.51) and an outstanding win in the freestyle in a personal best (29.77).
The Scarborough team had plenty of strength in depth and this was reflected in other individual wins from Ross Glegg, open back, (28.77), Julie Owen, girls open fly (30.18), both swimmers narrowly missing league records. Laurence Mills, open breaststroke (32.47), Sarah Roberts, open breaststroke (37.58) and Luke Goodall, 10/u boys back (21.33).
Relay wins were scarcer but the open boys team of Laurence and Gareth Mills, Ross Glegg and Adam Broadley had notable success in both the medley and freestyle relays against strong opposition. There was also double success for the girls open team of Emma and Hannah Couch, Emily Lucas, Sarah Roberts and Julie Owen. The 10/u girls team of Natasha Wrightson, Yuko Crawford, Imogen Kinrade and Jace Cappleman showed rich promise for the future by winning their freestyle relay. Overall an outstanding night of swimming was well appreciated by a supportive and noisy audience.
Result: Scarborough 151 pts, South Holderness 132, Kingfishers 114 and New Earswick 81pts
Club League Points Scarborough 151pts 4 South Holderness 132pts 3 Kingfishers 114pts 2 New Earswick 81pts 1
SCARBOROUGH BATTLE!
Gala 2 - Scarborough Indoor Pool (Kingfishers Host) - 17th May 2008Scarborough Swimming Club competed in the second Ridings Premiership gala of the year last weekend. Scarborough were comfortable winners of the years' first gala a month previously but this gala proved to be a much closer contest and after the final swim only 7pts separated three of the competing clubs with Scarborough on the evening finishing in third place.
The team made an excellent start to the evenings swimming with their 9/10 years boy's team of Callum Moverley, Luke Goodall, Charlie Cowen and Ben Hoggarth who was having his first swim at this level winning the medley relay in an impressive display. This was quickly followed by two other medley relay wins from the 12 years boy's team of David Couch, Sam Broadley, Robert Mort and Jordan Doubtfire, and the Open girl's team of Julie Owen, Sarah Roberts, Emma Couch and Hannah Couch which left the team in touch with the then gala leaders South Holderness.
However the Individual events then followed and success was more difficult to come by with the team only securing 7 wins from the 32 Individual races on offer. Senior swimmer Julie Owen certainly did her best to inspire the team winning the Open girls 50m fly (30.61) and 50 free (29.15). There were other wins from Hannah Broadley 14/u 50 fly (34.01), Jack Colley 14/u 50 breast (37.35), Callum Moverley 10/u 25 fly (20.91), Luke Goodall 10/u 25 back (21.91) and Jace Cappleman 10/u 25 breast (21.21).
Despite some fine swims from some of the clubs less experienced swimmers the team were unable to build on these wins and entered the final eight freestyle relays adrift of the two leading clubs. Some strong swimming in these events and another excellent win for the Open girl's team narrowed the points' gap but left the club regretting missing out on some close finishes.
The gala finished in a tie between South Holderness and Kingfishers on 128pts with Scarborough placed 3rd only 7pts behind on 121 pts and New Earswick 4th on 90 pts. This result certainly sets the league up for an exciting finish, with two gala's left to swim during the next two months, any of three clubs can still win the district's top league. The next event is at the South Holderness pool on June 28th.
Gala Result -
1) South Holderness 128pts. 2) Kingfishers 128pts. 3) Scarborough 121pts 4) New Earswick 90pts.
after 2 Galas:
Club League Points South Holderness 260 pts 6.5 Scarborough 272 pts 6 Kingfishers 242 pts 5.5 New Earswick 171 pts 2
Gala 3 Report to follow
Scarborough SC Kingfishers SC South Holderness SC New Earswick SC
