The first round of the Mercian League got off to a great start with Stratford Sharks A winning the first round by 11 points. The competition takes place over 3 rounds with the top 6 teams overall in the league making the final. On the night there were 13 first places, 13 second places and 23 personal bests.

  The format for the evening is team relay events followed by individual events and finishing with relays. The 10yrs girls & boys freestyle relay teams got off to a great start both winning with Gwennan Williams, Laura Bryan Emmy Shaddick & Lucy Tame, George Purchon, Zach Brough, Matt Newman & Andrew Morley, the majority of the swimmers in their first Mercian League.

  The 12yr old girls team increased the points in a hard fought race to win with Georgie Mackey, Eve Morley, Becky Tame & Caroline Ankrett having to fight all the way.

  The first individual win of the night when she led all the way went to Eve Morley in the girls 12yrs 100m Breaststroke, Hattie Beaumont also leading from the start winning for the 14yrs, Hattie who had a great night also went on to win the 100m Butterfly. Fran Cassidy-Morris added more point coming 2nd in the Open Category for both the 100m Fly and 100m Breastroke. The breaststroke was obviously the form stroke on the night for the girls with Laura Bryan winning the 10yrs 50m.

  Charli Cassidy-Morris & Becky Sherren Open & 14yrs 100m Backstroke both finished 2nd with Becky improving her position to win the 100m Freestyle. Lucy Tame & Gwennan Williams following their win with the relay team showed good form to come 2nd in the 10yrs 50m Freestyle & Fly respectively. Becky Tame also finished 2nd in the 12yrs 100m Freestyle.

  Young Matt Newman had the only win for the boys on the night in the 10yrs 1 length Fly, Joe Dancer 12yrs 100m Breast and Aaron Brough 12yrs 50m Fly both finishing 2nd.

  The same team of Shaddick, Bryan, Williams & Lucy Tame finished their evening winning the 10yrs Medley Relay as they started in the Freestyle. The 14yrs Medley team also winning with Becky Sherren, Hattie Beaumont, Becky Tame and Lydia Ratcliff.

  The boys 12yrs Freestyle team fought hard to ensure a relay win with Michael Ankrett, Joe Dancer, Aaron Brough & Josh Newman all putting in outstanding performances.

  The ladies Open team finished the final section winning both the Freestyle and Medley relays in superb times the teams were made up of Charli & Fran Cassidy-Morris and Yvonne Caswell swimming in both and joined by Hattie Beaumont for the Medley and Becky Sherran in the Freestyle.

  Despite the win of 11 points Stratford Sharks were ahead after 10 events, equal after 20 events, behind after 30 events and finally pulled ahead with some fantastic swims to pull far enough ahead and take victory. Well done to all swimmers especially those getting Personal Bests and swimming for the 1st time in a League. Good luck in round 2.