Summer League Success for Dolphin ‘A’

Round 2 of the 2008 Wiltshire Moonraker Summer League, held on Saturday night at the Link Centre, saw Swindon Dolphin ‘A’ emerge again as comfortable winners in Division 1 and extend their lead over local rivals, Tigersharks A, to 46 points.

There were excellent individual wins on the night for Michelle Bilko, Sam Berry, Lauren Matthews, Jack Janicki, & Niall Westman in the under 12 events; for James Clark & Tom Iles in the u14s; and in the u16 category for Elizabeth Beckett, Liam Herbert (2) & Cathal Westman. Beckett also recorded a victory in the girls’ open and there were 2 first place finishes apiece in the men’s open for Jon Audis, and Head Coach, Andi Manley.

In the relays, Dolphin completely dominated the boys’ events – the u12s (Janicki, N Westman, Sam Hunter & Noah Kirby), u14s (Liam Tubb, Clark, Iles & Sam Lofts), u16s (Herbert, C Westman, Joe Kerslake & George Bouverie-Brine) & men’s open (Manley, Audis, Nigel Masters, C Westman & Herbert) were all unbeaten.

The girls’ u12 and open freestyle quartets also touched home first.

Results: Swindon Dolphin A – 164 Points; Tigersharks A – 133; Trowbridge – 121; Chippenham -78

The ‘B’ Team made the journey to Godolphin School , Salisbury, for their second round contest. Event 3 saw the first maximum points for Dolphin with a fine swim from Craig Lofts in the u12s 50m butterfly. Lofts also took first place in the 50m backstroke and assisted his team mates, Lewis Ford, Adam Coleman & Alex Chantler to victory in the medley and freestyle relays.

Not to be outdone, the girls’ under 12 team of Lucy Anne Purnell, Lydia Harper, Chiara Pascarella & Lily Waite also scooped wins in both their relay events. Other superb individual victories for the girls included Harper in the 50m breaststroke, Waite in the 50m freestyle and Harriet Ritson in the u14s 50m backstroke. Chantler was unsurpassed in the u12s 50m freestyle while in the men’s open Anthony Clark sneaked a win in the 100m breaststroke to help the team to an overall third place finish.

Results: Salisbury – 148 points; Bradford-on-Avon – 133; Swindon Dolphin B – 113; Tigersharks B – 106

The men’s open swimmers were the most successful ‘C’ Team squad at Wootton Bassett with Matt Rose, Andy Bilko and Doug & Andy Alexander winning both the freestyle and medley relays. Rose also secured the 100m IM and 100m breaststroke with Doug Alexander taking the 100m fly. Patrick Seed (u14s, 50m breaststroke) and William Pilsworth (u12s, 25m freestyle) snatched victories while there were also impressive runner up spots for Gemma Lucus, Emily Dixon, Bilko and for the girls’ u16 medley foursome of Louise Cullen, Emma Coleman, Lauren Hawkins & Lucy Wright).