Another season, another J.C.Dobb. Could the Portland swimmers start the new season in their usual positive, determined and enthusiastic style? Of course, we are Portland Swimming Club after all – it’s not just the purple and white that sets us apart from the rest!
What a great evening it was too with 14 PBs, including 2 second (or almost) PBs for Rebecca H (50m back), Mikey (50m breast), Archie (50m butterfly), Lucy (50m free) and an enormous 6 second PB for Ethan in the 25m fly; 7 x 1st places and 9 x 2nd places; and 5 speeding tickets (!). For anyone new to the J.C.Dobb galas, speeding tickets mean swimmers swim faster than a set time for the event and the club loses 5 points. So, although theoretically they are not to be desired we are all secretly a bit chuffed when we get them!!!
ALL our swimmers deserve a mention for the quality of their swims, their fighting spirit and, as always, their outstanding support for their fellow team mates so well done Isabelle, Beatrice, Freya, Fran, Ethan, Ben, Raj, Joe, Rebecca H, Mikey, Olivia, Edward, Connor, Emma, Andrew, Molly, Zara, Ruby, Ellen, Lucy, Jaime, Archie, Stanley, Michael, Kathy, Rebecca P and Dom.
A few special mentions:
Ben Brown, Zara Campbell-Simm, Ruby Dunne and Joe Hadley for super first time swims for Portland, no DQs (disqualifications) and very loud vocal support for your team!
Raj Malhi and Fran Roberts for strong swims in their very first individual events.
Beatrice Munro for standing out from the crowd with very classy swims, especially in her butterfly events.
Andrew DeBoer and Rebecca Phillips, our club captains, for setting the example, both in and out of the water – if you want to know how to swim 25m free watch Rebecca’s ‘no breathing’ legs of the relays!
Lucy Toplass for fighting to the very end of all her events in a bid to get the touch.
Our ‘veteran’ 10/u swimmer, Ethan Pywell, who powered up and down the pool, even after 5 swims.
Connor – for always getting out of the pool with a huge smile even in the face of adversity when your goggles are hanging around your throat from the off!
Portland finished a fantastic 3rd overall – by only 1 point. Well done swimmers!
Thank you as always to all the poolside helpers, the importance of whom cannot be emphasised enough – our children would not have these opportunities to compete without the assistance of all those giving their time freely. If you feel you can offer your help please let club officials know as we need a strong squad of Portland ‘gamesmakers’ as well as swimmers.
Finally, an appeal…please do not let your children bite their nails – there would have been even more higher placings if only they had let their nails grow!!!
