Leicester Diddy League Round 1 – April 2018: Times and Report

Hinckley Leisure Centre – 14th April 2018

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The modern but very warm Hinckley Leisure Centre hosted last nights round 1 of the 2018 Diddy League. This league is for 4 age groups as at the 30th June. The age groups are ages 9, 10 , 11 and 12 – with all age groups doing all 4 individual races ( so age 9 doing fly) and free and medley relays.

Last year BASC for the first time had made the Grand Final and we travelled to Hinckley looking to see how the 2018 Squad would perform – with two good friendlies under their belts with a second at Matlock and winning the Braunstone Trophy we hoped for another great Diddy League season.

The league this year has 27 teams – so a kind round 1 draw would be key to maintaining last year’s position – sadly that was not the case and we drew the mighty Leicester Neptune A who had finished runners up in the Grand Final last year. Other clubs on show were the hosts Hinckley B, Solihull B and Neptune B – so Neptune had a huge collection of talented swimmers on the poolside.

Taking your first steps in a competitive league gala is a big step for children so young but all did fantastic last night. Competitive Diddy League debuts for Burton SC went to Lana Clamp, Freya Smith, Poopy Rayner, Emily Copley, Bella Richards, Jaina Muogbo, Amelie Brown, Josh Cooper, Lucas Joubert, Toby Durkan, Jonathan Stimpson, Dylan Campbell, Harry Preston, Edan Maxwell, Sam Duggan and George Preston.

The team captains for the Junior League in 2018 are Ella Cooper and Harrison Jones, who had played such key roles in helping us reach the Grand Final last year.

17 First Places

Lana Clamp -25m breast
Georgia Ulyett – 25m free
Ruby Welsford – 50m back
Harrison Jones – 50m back
Emily Copley, Freya Smith, Lana Clamp and Bella Richards – age 9 medley relay
Bella Smith – 25m breast
Harrison Jones – 25m free
Charlie Miller, Bella Smith, Rachael Greener and Jaina Muogbo – age 10 medley
Harrison Jones, Edan Maxwell, James Copley and Oliver Frost – age 11 free
George Preston – 50m breast
Lana Clamp – 25m fly
Ella Cooper – 50m free
Georgia Ulyett, Charlie Miller, Jaina Muogbo and Rachael Greener – age 10 free
Ella Cooper – 50m fly
Racheal Greener – 25m fly
Ruby Welsford – 25m back
Cannon – Lana Clamp, Dylan Campbell, Georgia Ulyett, Jasper Saunders, Ruby Welsford, Harrison Jones, Ella Cooper and George Preston

21 Second Places

Jonathan Stimpson – 25m breast
Edan Maxwell – 25m fly
Josh Cooper, Jonathan Stimpson, Toby Durkan and Dylan Campbell – age 9 medley
Harry Preston – 25m breast
Ruby Welsford – 25m free
Lucas Joubert – 25m back
Ella Cooper, Brieana Shrive, Issy Stanley and Millie Barrett – age 12 medley
Dylan Mitchell, Harry Preston, Jasper Saunders and James Williams – age 10 medley
Ruby Welsford, Sophie Haines, Georgia Ulyett and Amelie Brown – age 11 free
Lana Clamp, Bella Richards, Poppy Rayner and Freya Smith – age 9 free
Lucas Joubert, Toby Durkan, Dylan Campbell and Josh Cooper – age 9 free
Dylan Mitchell – 25m back
Sophie Haines – 25m breast
George Preston – 50m free
Dylan Mitchell, Jasper Saunders, Harry Preston and James Williams – age 10 free
Ruby Welsford, Bella Smith, Amelie Brown and Sophie Haines – age 11 medley
Harrison Jones, James Copley, Edan Maxwell and Oliver Frost – age 11 medley
Lucas Joubert – 25m free
Dylan Mitchell – 25m fly
Brieana Shrive, Issy Stanley, Ella Cooper and Millie Barrett – age 12 medley
Max Sandle, George Preston, Jed Bavester and Sam Duggan – age 12 medley

5 Third Places

Emily Copley – 25m back
Issy Stanley – 50m breast
Charlie Miller – 25m back
James Copley – 25m breast
Jed Bavester – 50m fly

Throughout the 49 races it was very tight between the impressive Leicester Neptune A and Burton SC. We led narrowly after 16 races but were level on 167 points after 34 races. As we entered the cannon we knew it was very close – when George Preston anchored home that win in race 49 we still had no idea which of the 2 teams had taken the 6 points for winning round 1 – both sets of kids waited to see who had won and it was then announced to scenes of excitement as below

Overall Result:

Highlights from a great night included :-

STAR SWIMMER – Lana Clamp – what a debut on the Diddy League stage – winning both her individual races and leading off the cannon relay team to the epic conclusion of a great night for BASC

STAR RACE – race 49 the 8 x 25m cannon – we have not often witnessed the passion the kids and parents showed roaring the BASC kids to catch the Neptune swimmers than last night -as we progressed through the ages we kept narrowing the gap between us and Neptune – and after a very fast pair of swims by the captains Harrison and Ella we saw George Preston win by a finger nail at the end.

Other highlights:

– All the age 9 section kids swimming with such great technique and with smiles on their faces including Emily Copley on her birthday
– Georgia Ulyett going sub 16 seconds in 25m free
– Ruby Welsford and Harrison Jones swimming up and both winning the 50m back races
– Bella Smith winning the age 10 25m breast
– George Preston setting a huge PB to win the 50m Breast
– Age 10 girls relay team of Charlie Miller, Bella Smith, Jaina Muogbo, Rachael Greener
and Georgia Ulyett taking first in both the free and medley relays
– Ella Cooper winning by huge margins on 50m fly and free
– Harrison Jones taking 3 first individual places to play alongside Ella a full captains role
– Rachael Greener winning the age 10 25m fly
– A huge 66 PB times swam including relay splits

Thank you to all who helped the kids achieve another great performance:-

– Simon, Ian and Jo for coaching and advising
– Paul E, Debbie and Chris for officiating
– Karen, Simon and Paul for timing
– Emily, Rachel, Mary, Lee, Finley and Sophie for sending the kids to races
– As ever the parents without whom we would not have a team

Round 2 is on 12th May – where we hope for a home draw. Last night was our 30th win since we started this transformation in fortunes in March 2014, and the 3rd in a very short space of time – well done to all