Dont put a limit on anything. The more you dream the further you get. Michael Phelps.
Staffs League 2019 – Round 1 : Times & Report
Cannock Leisure Centre, Cannock, 9th March 2019
The 2019 Staffs league got underway at Cannock Leisure Centre only a few weeks after the end of the County Championships and the Winter League Round 2 gala.
We all know by now that this league is a massive step up for us a club and this year was no different in terms of judging where we would come due to the reasons set out below:-
- The draw gave us Bilston A who always make the top final come November
- Kids have moved age groups since the Tier 2 final in November 2018 finals night
- At this stage of the year all our age 9 kids would be new to 50m races and very nervous
- Due to such a good performance last year our seeding had given us a very hard draw with the 3 teams who just finished above us last November all with us and Bilston A on the night – so we went in seeded 5th
The draw was clear that Bilston A would win, with Womborne, Chase B( Last years tier 2 winners), Phoenix A ( tier 2 winners the year before) pushing Burton all the way in the fight for 2nd to 5th – Walsall despite having very strong age 15 girls would probably come 6th
The gala format is all races and legs are over 50m – and we get mixed relays rather than the usual all girls or boys – so it is a great league for strength of opposition, different races and coming just before our first ever winter finale on the 30/3 with all the Arena League Teams.
Staff League debuts went to Edward Frost, Joseph Mills, Abigail Hughes, Chloe Clamp and Jess Ulyett – all 5 age 9 kids looked ready to give it a go and try to put the technique learned into practice in a race.
2 First Places:
Bella Smith – age 11 50m breast
Matt Gates – open age 50m free
8 Second Places:
Matt Gates – open age 50m fly
Jaina Muogbo – age 11 50m free
Dylan Mitchell – age 11 50m free
Ruby Welsford – age 13 50m back
George Greener – age 15 50m fly
Ella Cooper – age 13 50m fly
Dylan Mitchell, Bella Smith, Lana Clamp and Dylan Campbell – age 11 medley relay
Matt Appelbee – age 15 50m free
9 Third Places:
Bella Smith – age 11 50m back
Tom Mitchell – age 15 50m breast
Edward Frost, Chloe Clamp, Jess Ulyett and Joseph Mills – age 9 medley relay
Adam Doughty – open age 50m breast
Jaina Muogbo, Bella Smith, Lucas Joubert and Josh Cooper – age 11 free relay
Ella Cooper – age 13 50m free
Lana Clamp – age 11 50m fly
Dylan Campbell – age 11 50m fly
Jack Ward – open age 50m back
The overall result scoring 6 points for a win was:-
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bilston A | 195 |
| 2 | Cannock Phoenix A | 168 |
| 3 | Chase B | 166 |
| 4 | Womborne | 150 |
| 5 | Burton | 147 |
| 6 | Walsall | 76 |
STAR SWIMMER – Bella Smith and Matt Gates –both won their individual races in such a high standard gala
STAR RACE – George Greener – breaking 30 seconds in 50m fly for the first time
All debutants did themselves proud – the smiles on their faces as they came back to the team base was fantastic.
Special thank you to Martin Brown, Jo Bolton and Bev Doughty for officiating, to Donna and Karen for timing, and Simon & Ian for all the coaching and advice last night
