Arena League Round 1, Gala 1 Results. (Oct 2011).

A fantastic team swim for Chorley Marlins in the first round of the North West National Arena League Gala.

On the 8th October 2011 Chorley Marlins took part in the opening round of the NW Arena League. Even though the squad were missing some swimmers and with the addition of a few swimmers new to the rigors of the tough Arena League competition, it was a brilliant display with some great performances both in the relays and individual events.

The Team Line Up:
Bootle & North Liverpool
Bury & Elton
Chadderton
Chorley Marlins
Lancaster City
Wrexham

Swimming for the girls: 
Caitlin Thompson, Mariette Braithwaite, Alex Highcock, Megan Ireland, Anna Doughty, Martha Horton, Kelly Roscoe, Caitlin Wilson, Rhiannon Crist, Emma Heald, Millie Greenslade, Emily Barclay, Lizzie Undrell, Claire Dixon, Polly Greenslade, Holly Sofield.

Swimming for the boys: 
Callan Sharples, Stephen Hancock, Adam Parkes, Bradley Astles, Ben Gibbs, Alex Walmsley, Jack Dandy, Sam Parr, Tom Gibbs, Harry England, Daniel Jump, James Highcock, Christian Lawless, Will Hawkes.

That night in Salford at the Broughton pool we witnessed a great evening's entertainment with Chorley Marlins taking an early 2nd place after 10 events and then continuing to swim strongly to maintain that second place all the way to the end, and to do that with a depleted squad of 14 boys and 16 girls for 50 events is impressive to say the least.

Usually a swimmer would probably swim in 3 or 4 events but Mary the Head Coach had to do an incredible juggling act to make the numbers up, and this resulted in some swimmers taking part in 5 or 6 events sometimes almost one event straight after the other. I must point out that some swimmers were asked to not just swim in their own age group events but also to swim in events above their age group, to do this is asking a lot but then for those swimmers to bring their 'A' game and actually get podium finishes or indeed winning those races is phenomenal, I take my hat off to you all Well done.

It was really good display by all those that attended, but Jack Dandy gets my Man of The Match award with some excellent swims to win 3 out of the 4 events he was entered into. Saying that though the race of the evening has to go to Tom Gibbs for stepping up into the Open 100m Fly, against some competition that more resembled a block of flats than 18 year old boys, and then to go about destroying these behemoths was a joy to watch well done Tom.

Also of note was the 11 and Under girls squad of Caitin Thompson, Mariette Braithwaite, Alex Highcock, and Megan Ireland, who must get a special mention for the fact that they not only won both the medley and freestyle relay's but they also won 3 out of the 4 individual events (50 Fly, 50 Breast, 50 Free)  with a 3rd place finish in the backstroke. What a very strong 11/U team of female swimmers we have. Girls well done to you.

Overall we were really strong in the relay's were 15 out of 16 events saw us finish on the podium (1st 2nd or 3rd), and in the individual swims we had 28 podium finishes out of 34 events.

The Final Standings:
Wrexham                                250
Chorley Marlins                       237
Lancaster City                        183
Bury & Elton                           131
Chadderton                            122
Bootle & North Liverpool        85

Mary Parkinson, the Head Coach said "the fantastic attitude and team spirit shown by our swimmers was absolutely amazing and I'm really looking forward to the next round in November".

Once again Well Done to all those involved there were some inspired individual swims and also some key team displays, keep up the hard work in training because it is paying off and we as a club are so proud of you all.

K. Sharples (Vice Chair)

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