Staffs League 2018 – Round 3 : Times & Report

Cannock Leisure Centre, Cannock, 6th October 2018

The 2018 Staffs league resumed at the Cannock Leisure Centre for round 3 of this years competition. After the amazing win in round 2 we had moved to a second tier level for this round. 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 Cannock Phoenix A who won tier 2 in 2016
– Lichfield who won tier 2 in 2015 and 2017
– Dove Valley and Walsall for the first time this season

The draw was clear that Lichfield should win, maybe Burton could push for a second place?

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 with it coming in a period when older kids not getting league competitions it is always a nice end to the summer season.

Staff League Debuts went to Beth Holmes, Orla Leyland and Caitlin Thomas – with many swimmers taking in a late night gala before swimming in the Bridge to Bridge event the next day.

9 First Places:

Georgia Ulyett – 50m Back age 11
Jack Ward – 50m breast age 15
Finley Brown – 50m fly open age
Adam Doughty – 50m breast open age
Matt Gates – 50m free open age
Oliver Frost, Charlie Miller, Rachael Greener and Edan Maxwell -age 11 medley
Jack Ward – 50m back age 15
George Stevens -50m free age 15
Matt Gates – 50m back open age

8 Second Places:

Georgia Ulyett – 50m free age 11
Edan Maxwell – 50m free age 11
George Greener – 50m fly age 15
Sophie Fowkes, Adam Doughty, Matt Gates and Emma Preston open age medley
George Stevens, Imeh Tyas, George Greener and Caitlin Thomas – age 15 free
Tom Mitchell – 50m fly age 13
Tom Mitchell – 50m breast age 13
Matt Gates, Finley Brown, Annabelle Joseph and Immy Hill – open free

12 Third Places:

Boys Cannon Team
Ella Cooper, Tom Mitchell, Harrison Jones and Issy Stanley – age 13 free
Jack Ward, Emma Preston, George Stevens and Caitlin Thomas – age 15 medley
Sophie Fowkes – 50m fly open age
Rosie Bolton – 50m back age 13
Toby Durkan, Jonny Stimpson, Emily Copley and Orla Leyland – age 9 medley
Ella Cooper – 50m free age 13
George Preston – 50m free age 13
Ella Cooper – 50m fly age 13
Immy Hill – 50m free open age
Sophie Fowkes – 50m back age 15
Rachael Greener – 50m fly age 11

The overall result scoring 5 points for a win was:-

A fantastic outcome from round 3 – the team all swam with great pride and determination totalling 45 PB times.

STAR SWIMMER – Jack Ward and Matt Gates – both winning two individual races despite the high standard on show

STAR RACE – Shared between Ella Cooper , who became the first girl to go sub 30 seconds for 50m free, and Georgia Ulyett who swam 1.5 secs faster than the county time for 50m back

All debutants did themselves proud – they all overcame nerves for doing tumble turns to swim so well.

Special thank you to Bev Doughty, Debbie Preston, Jo Bolton, Karen Cooper, and Chris Greener for officiating – Simon, Andy & Ian for all the coaching and advice on the night.

We now have a week before start the Autumn League – this year with two teams for the first time ever.