What a night! 20 PBs (yes, you did read that correctly), 4 x 1st and 4 x 2nd places and 4 swimmers doing themselves extra proud swimming up age groups. Once again our team spirit was immense, both poolside and in the spectator gallery – you know who you are …
So, to the PBs … and where does one start? Perhaps with Ethan’s massive 7 seconds off his 50m freestyle, followed by over 3 seconds off times for Beatrice (50m fly), Stanley (50m breaststroke) and Archie (100m backstroke)! And then of course there were over 2 second PBs for Edward (100m breaststroke), Mikey (100m IM) and Esther (100m IM) with a plethora of up to 1.5 second improvements for Connor (100m IM & 100m freestyle), Dahlia (100m breaststroke), Olivia (100m backstroke), Jack (100m fly), Mikey (100m breaststroke & 100m freestyle), Jaime (50m fly), Isabelle (50m breaststroke), Esther (100m breaststroke), Rebecca (100m backstroke & 100m freestyle) and Hannah (100m freestyle)!
However, fantastic as it is to get PBs, that’s not all there is to it and Portland swimmers proved yet again what fighting spirits they all have with some very impressive swims and very close finishes, so well done to you all: Connor, Dahlia, Archie, Olivia, Jack, Emma, Raj, Zara, Ben, Ruby, Stanley, Cecily, Mikey, Jaime, Maddie, Isabelle, Edward, Esther, Andrew, Molly, Rebecca, Ethan, Grace, Hannah and Beatrice.
More than a few special mentions:
Grace – our only first timer on the night, although you would never have known as you looked like a pro, posting your first time for the 50m freestyle.
Connor – for always smiling STILL, even though you have been ill all week and were even a bit ill on the night!
Emma – for an amazing 100m fly with your goggles around your nose! As if it isn’t hard enough anyway.
Cecily – for a super strong finish in the 50m backstroke.
Jaime – for a masterclass in butterfly. Watch and learn…
Maddie – for swimming up and fighting to the end in the Open 100m IM.
Beatrice – once again impressing us onlookers with a super butterfly, watch out Jaime!
Edward – for a thrilling final leg in the medley relay.
Dom – how not to dive…but a supersonic final leg in the medley relay. Hope you aren’t too sore!
Rebecca – for a fantastic 100m backstroke, swimming up.
Mikey – for swim of the night, swimming up in the 100m breaststroke and earning a brilliant 3rd place against ‘boys’ twice your height, twice as wide and possibly 3 years older than you!!
We finished 4th overall, a great result, but definitely deserve 1st for ‘teamliness’.
Thanks again to the ‘gamesmakers’ and especially to less experienced Club members for their offers of future help. The galas cannot take place without willing volunteers, so if you think you can help in any way, either at galas or within the Club, please contact [email protected]. Remember, ‘every little helps’! For Results Click Here
