Year of the horse? No, no ,no … year of the Marlin! Where to start on a night of class, determination and, of course as always, amazing team spirit? Perhaps with thank-yous to the adults for battling the adverse weather conditions to get our swimmers to Worksop Leisure Centre – an achievement in itself. Followed by our cast of all stars:
Michael T, Rebecca H, Michael P, Olivia, Dom, Dahlia, Ben, Zara, Dylan, Ruby, Stanley, Isabelle, Connor, Esther, Jaime, Andrew, Emma, Edward, Bethan, Molly, Ethan and Gaby.
Here goes with the PBs: Stanley (50m backstroke & 50m breaststroke), Connor (100m breaststroke & 100m backstroke), Jaime (50m fly), Emma (100m IM), Gaby (50m free & 50m fly), Dahlia (100m backstroke), Esther (100m free) and NEW TIMES: Dom (100m fly, 100m free & 100m backstroke), Bethan (100m free & 100m IM), Michael T (100m free).
You all deserve special mentions:
Michael T – as ever, giving it your all, whatever you were asked to do, even at the last minute!
Rebecca H – for classy swims all night, holding your own in the 15/u events, even though you have only just turned 14.
Dom and Dahlia – for meeting the dreaded 100m fly head on, never mind that you couldn’t walk afterwards!
Ben, Zara, Dylan, Ruby – our ’Supersquad’ … and they were! Thank you also for keeping lane end entertained for the evening!
Stanley – what a class act! Those PBs just keep on coming.
Isabelle – for fighting all the way to the end of an amazingly close finish on the 50m backstroke.
Esther – for quietly going about her business, a true pro and a 10 second PB!
Michael P – for a masterclass in the 100m IM and the only 1st place of the night.
Andrew – for THE most amazing battle down the last 25m of the 100m IM.
Edward – for a very close finish in a hard fought 100m breaststroke. Remember to look at Dad next time!
Bethan – for her enthusiasm and determination in a busy first night back to competition since her break.
Molly – for all her swims but particularly the LAST leg of the cannon …
Ethan – for always giving his best but especially for giving the medley relay team a great start.
Gaby – you are truly multi-talented, with strong swims across 3 strokes. No wonder you were rewarded with two well-deserved PBs.
A trio of swimmers, who, despite very challenging, muddy runs earlier in the day at the County Schools Cross Country Championships, still pulled it out the bag for Portland:
Emma – strong swims as usual, including a PB.
Jaime – for a gritty 50m fly that ‘went to the wire’. (Cross Country silver medallist!)
Olivia – for a great performance, even though not feeling 100%. (Cross Country Champion gold medallist!)
Swim of the night must go to Connor who discovered that breaststroke is his new ‘favourite’ stroke! Awesome swim which resulted in a 10 second PB – surely worth feeling sick for …?
4th overall but, more importantly, 3rd place in the cannon! This was a very special night of swimming when Portland once again came into their own to show we are ready to compete with ‘the big boys’.
Huge thanks to all the gamesmakers and particularly to our team selector, swimmer, Dad, chauffeur and coach for the evening – Dom.
Log in at Swimmers’ Corner for results.
