The season started well for Stratford Sharks in the Speedo League despite injuries, the Speedo league has three rounds culminating in a final for the top 6 teams in the league. The majority of Sharks competitive swimmers will be competing in either the A or B teams.

  The A team didn't have far to travel for round one which took place in Leamington Spa. The Speedo starts and finishes with relays, with 50m & 100m individual events in between. The team got off to a good start with an early win for the 11yr girls Lydia Ratcliff, Lilly Russell-Wilks, Frances Goss and Becky Tame in the Freestyle relay, the 15yrs boys didnt want to be beaten and fought hard to take 1st place with a fast last leg from David Townsend joined by Lawrie Mills, George Brear and Jon Tanner. To finish the first session of relays another valuable 10 points were gained by the girls with Emma White, Fran Cassidy-Morris, Becky Sherren & Emma Bysouth taking 2nd in the 15yrs Freestyle relay and Jenny Page, Emma White, Helen Livesey & Claire Bassinder in the Open Medley Relay.

  Lawrie Mills won the first individual event of the evening in the 15yrs Open 100m Back also winning the Open 100m Free, Emma White had a great swim to take 2nd place for the girls in the 15yrs 100m Back and the Open 100m Breast, Emma who was having a busy night had a strong challenge but fought hard and won the 15yrs 100m Breaststroke.

  James Wardle travelled home from Loughborough University to compete with the team James was in excellent form swimming strongly to win convincingly in the Open 100m Fly & 100m Free. Grace Wright swimming the 15yrs 100m Fly had one of the biggest wins of the evening with a 5metre win over 2nd place, David Townsend also swimming 15yrs 100m Fly had a good swim finishing a very close 2nd.

  The younger girls gained valuable points with Becky Tame swimming well to finish 2nd in the 50m Breast & 3rd in the 50m Back. Lydia Ratcliff was 2nd in the 50m Free. Four points were also gained for 3rd places by Megan Stanley and Aaron Brough in the 50m Fly and Emma Bysouth 100m Fly.

  For the older swimmers George Brear 100m Breast, Claire Bassinder 100m Free and Robert Jolly all achieved 3rd places. Although it is early in the season we also had a couple of personal best swims for Joe Dancer and Joe Evans.

  The evening finished with relays with the 11yrs Megan Stanley, Lilly Russell-Wilks, Frances Goss & Lydia Ratcliff, girls 15yrs Emma White, Fran Cassidy-Morris, Grace Wright & Becky Sherren, boys 15yrs Lawrie Mills, George Brear, Jon Tanner & David Townsend and finally the Mens cannon of James Wardle, Robert Jolly, Tom Pilling, Adam Brear, David Townsend & Lawrie MIlls all finishing 2nd.

  Overall Sharks finished 3rd on the night with only 5 points between 1st and 3rd places, a valiant effort, with full fitness we will be hoping to improve in round two.