Dolphin Third in Speedo Round Two

Date: Saturday 10 November 2007 Location: Central Park Leisure Centre, Plymouth

Event: National Speedo League – Western Premier Division, Rd 2

The long trip to Central Park Leisure Centre in Plymouth for the second round of the 2007/8 National Speedo League saw Swindon Dolphin improve on their first round points total and finish third on the day, but this was not enough to qualify for the South West ‘A’ final in December.

The gala was a case of déjà vu for Swindon Dolphin. Again they were beaten by Plymouth Leander, and again the top performances came in the younger age groups with many of this group of swimmers achieving identical results. Samantha Berry figured in four of Dolphin’s five victories, repeating her first round wins in the 50m backstroke and 50m fly in the girls’ 9-11 age group, and joining team mates Charlotte Gardo, Victoria Jennings and Charlotte Pitts as they continued their unbeaten start to the season with victories in the medley and freestyle relays. Dolphin’s only other first place came from another first round winner, James Clark, who again led the way in the boys’ 13 & under 100m breaststroke.

Other notable performances were a pair of second place finishes for Chris Jones, in the men’s 4 x 50m individual medley and 100m freestyle, with Head Coach Andi Manley also securing the runners up spot in the men’s open 100m fly. There were also second place finishes for the men’s open age group team in the medley and freestyle relays, and for the boys’ 13 and under 4x50m freestyle quartet. Matthew Sambrook took second spot in the 50m freestyle for 10-11 year olds for the second gala running and boys’ team captain Cathal Westman completed the list of second place finishers in the 15 & under 100m breaststroke.