Saturday 4th June saw the next round of the JC Dobb galas with a strong team representing Portland SC at Hucknall Leisure Centre.
The younger boys started the gala well in the 10/U freestyle relay. Judd Tucker swam an awesome first leg, followed by great swims from Oliver Long and Harrison Morroll with Adam Boydell finishing with a brilliant fourth leg that brought the boys home in third place.
The 12/U boys’ 4x 25m freestyle team was made up of Archie Poole, Oliver Long (swimming up), Lucian Munro and Raj Malhi with Archie also competing later on in the 50m backstroke where he was up against some very strong swimmers. He swam a good race and a particularly good second 25m. Oliver posted a new time for the 25m butterfly with a strong swim against some tough opposition.
Ava Tucker swam comfortably into 4th place in the 50m breaststroke, posting a new time. She also swam a fantastic first leg in the girls’ 12/U 4x25m freestyle relay. Adam Boydell claimed a brilliant 2nd place in the 10/U 25m freestyle, racing through the water like a motorboat on full power.
Harrison Morroll swam a storming 25m breaststroke, winning the race, but was so fast we couldn’t get the points for it. Grace Artley swam up an age group in some 10/U individual races and despite a few goggle issues posted some very good new times in the 25m freestyle, backstroke and fly. She also held her own swimming in the 12/U freestyle relay with the older girls.
Lucy Hinks made a huge improvement on her PB in the 50m backstroke and along with Cerys Rigby, Raj Malhi and Lucian Munro, swam a great 12/U mixed medley relay. Raj Malhi knocked seconds off his PB in the 50m butterfly thanks to a very strong second 25m and posted an excellent 3rd place with a great swim in the 50m freestyle.
Dan Hardy beat his PBs in both the 50m freestyle and the 50m breaststroke, coming 4th in both races. Stanley Toplass saw a new PB for the 50m backstroke and a fabulous 3rd place in the 50m butterfly while Cerys Rigby smashed her best 50m freestyle time.
Beatrice Munro and Connor Cruickshank both took 2nd place in their respective 50m fly races. Connor won the 50m breaststroke and Beatrice swam a storming final leg in the open 4x25m freestyle relay, along with Beth Taylor, Bethan Simmons and Grace Rigby, just being pipped at the touch for 3rd place. Grace swam a great second length in the 50m freestyle to gain 4th place and Beth swam solidly throughout the meet, staying strong in the 50m fly.
Bethan Simmons swam a number of solid races, most notably in the 50m breaststroke where she came 2nd and in the 14/U girls’ 4x25m freestyle relay along with Grace Rigby, Briony O’Keeffe and Beth Taylor in which the girls swam to a brilliant 3rd place. Briony swam in a very close 50m breaststroke and was just beaten into 4th place with a really good swim.
Beatrice and Bethan swam up in some events to the Open category, and held their own against swimmers two years older. Indeed Bea managed to swim faster than the fastest allowable time for the 50m fly, faster than a speeding adult of any age.
The boys’ open freestyle relay team consisted of Edward Roberts, Stanley Toplass, Tarun Mistry and Connor Cruickshank. The race was incredibly close and they held on brilliantly to claim 2nd place. Edward also swam a great 50m backstroke to claim 3rd place and Tarun put in a good performance in the 50m freestyle posting a new time, with some much improved diving.
Unfortunately with a few no swims, races where we didn’t get any points and disqualifications Portland finished 6th overall. However, this was not reflective of the excellent swimming performances and as always the swimmers gave their all in every race. Well done!
You can see the times achieved by logging in to Swimmers’ Corner Gala News.
