It was all hands on deck as we hosted the most recent JC Dobb gala and more than a few of us were out of our comfort zones – that was just the adults! It was worth it though to see our amazing swimmers excel themselves once more in an evening of fireworks both inside and outside the pool.
15 PBs (Hannah Mackay 50m back & 50m free – also county qualifying time; Lucy Toplass 50m breaststroke; William Cranton 50m breaststroke; Andrew De Boer 50m breaststroke & 50m free; Stanley Toplass 50m fly – also county qualifying time; Maddie Mackay 50m free; Angelina Difolco-Brooks 50m back; Sam Mackay 50m back; Phoebe Mackay 25m breaststroke; Mikey Pawluk 50m free; Gabriel Difolco-Brooks 25m fly; Gen Poon 50m free; Georgia Sillitoe 50m backstroke), 7 new times, 5 first time swims, 7 x 1st and 2nd places and 4 speeding tickets! These are for swimmers who swim faster than set higher level times and, whilst they mean no points scored for the team, mean our swimmers are getting better and better (so secretly we are all rather pleased when we get them…).
Everyone deserves a mention, perhaps most notably for the calm and assured way you all go about your business; so, very well done Ella Trott, Phoebe Mackay, Freya Teweleit, Maddie Poon, Ben Brown, Gabriel Difolco-Brooks, Louis Dunne, Luke Hastings, Hannah Mackay, Michael Tones, Lucy Toplass, William Cranton, Georgia Sillitoe, Maddie Mackay, Dan Higgon, Andrew De Boer, Finlay Cunnison, Ruby Dunne, Oscar Trott, Ellen Roberts, Joseph Tuffin, Angelina Difolco-Brooks, Gen Poon, Samuel Mackay, Stanley Toplass, Kathy Pawluk, Rebecca Phillips and Mikey Pawluk.
Special mentions:
Louis Dunne, Maddie Poon, Oscar Trott, Finlay Cunnison and Dan Higgon for first time swims for Portland.
Hannah Mackay for her 50m free when, in the words of a swimming expert (Dan), she ‘smashed it’!
Maddie Poon for an outstanding swim in the 10/u 25m backstroke, despite her final words before heading off ‘oh no, backstroke’!
Luke Hastings who swam like a pro all evening.
Louis Dunne for a fine leg in his first swim of the evening, the freestyle relay, despite losing his goggles.
Maddie Mackay, Georgia Sillitoe, Kathy Pawluk and Rebecca Phillips, the girls’ Open freestyle relay team for showing the way and earning themselves a very well-deserved speeding ticket!
Michael Tones for being the busiest swimmer of the night – no sooner did he think he was getting a rest than it was time to go again! All done with a smile; you are a star, Michael.
Finlay Cunnison for overcoming some first time nerves to produce very confident swims – who would have thought it was his first time?
Ruby Dunne for not only swimming well but for being the most determined supporter too.
Dan Higgon for his 50m fly when, in the words of a swimming expert (oh, that was you, Dan) he ‘smashed it’!
Swims of the night go to Andrew De Boer for once again leading the way and maintaining his consistency to lead the mixed Open Medley relay team to a fine 1st place and to earn a fabulous 1st place in the 50m breaststroke. What a great example!
Portland came 5th overall, mainly down to those (fantastic) speeding tickets but, more importantly, this was again a night of Portland team spirit both in and out of the pool. Dan’s hand sign says everything – you are all winners!
Thank you so much to all those who helped on the night, including adults and swimmers who turned out even though their swimmers weren’t swimming (Tracy, Dave, Emma and Rebecca Horne and Dom Misiuda). Also, big thanks to Guy Roberts and Dom Misiuda for the behind-the-scenes organisation of a well-run evening.
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