Staffs League Round 4 – 2nd Tier Final November 2019: Times and Report

Cannock Leisure Centre  – 23rd November 2019

The 2019 Staffs League came to it’s conclusion with the annual finals night in November. We all know by now that this league is a difficult league with 3 levels of standard. In round 1 we had again swam in level 2 – which in truth is the level we are at now. In round 2 we had a swim in level 3, we entered as clear favourites and won at a canter – back to level 2 on round 3 and a very even gala saw us come 4th.

All of this lead to our 4^th consecutive experience in the second tier final at the Cannock LC. The draw put BASC against Bilston B. Chase B, Stafford Apex, Wombourne and Cannock Phoenix A. The gala format is all races and legs are over 50m – and we get mixed relays rather than the usual all girls or boys.

A very tough draw with us going in seeded 5^th and likely to be with Bilston for 5^th or 6^th place.

4 First Places: 

• Finley Brown – open age 50m fly
• Harrison Jones – age 13 50m back
• Bella Smith – age 11 50m breast
• Matt Gates – open age 50m free

9 Second Places:

• Lana Clamp – age 11 50m back
• Jaina Muogbo – age 11 50m free
• Seb Jones, Chloe Clamp, Jess Ulyett and Joseph Mills – age 9 medley
• George Greener – age 15 50m fly
• Ella Cooper – age 13 50m fly
• Lana Clamp = age 11 50m fly
• Dylan Campbell – age 11 50m fly
• Katie Spooner – age 15 50m free
• Matt Appelbee – age 15 50m free

7 Third Places:

• Tom Mitchell – age 15 50m breast
• Rosie Bolton, Tom Mitchell, Matt Appelbee and Charlotte Breeze – age 15 medley
• Matt Gates – open age 50m breast
• Ella Cooper – age 13 50m free
• Harrison Jones – age 13 50m free
• Dylan Mitchell, Bella Smith, Lana Clamp and Dylan Campbell – age 11 medley
• Jack Ward – open age 50m back

From the start of the gala it was clear all 6 teams would win races and that the final result would be tight – only a point a race separating all the clubs proving this point

The overall result scoring 6 points for a win :-

So an amazing 5^th place – all teams winning races in a very tight competitive gala – the swimmers gaining 24 PB times on the night and 2 DQ.

STAR SWIMMER – shared by Bella Smith, Harrison Jones, Fin Brown and Matt Gates – all gained individual wins in a very high standard

STAR RACE – Goes to Seb Jones, Chloe Clamp, Jess Ulyett and Joseph Mills – for the age 9 medley race

Special thank you to Chris Greener and Karen Cooper for officiating, to Colin for the relay timing, Simon for timing on poolside and Simon & Ian for all the coaching and advice last night.