On Saturday evening 24th June 2006 Stratford Sharks hosted a ‘GIRLS ONLY’ gala at Stratford Leisure centre which was sponsored by Avonvale Honda from Stratford. Six teams competed, Stratford Sharks entered 2 teams and teams from Kingsbury Aquarius, Stourbridge, Redditch and Camphill Edwardians joined them. Stratford A team produced 10 first places, the 14/15 years relay team of Fran Cassidy-Morris, Grace Wright, Hattie Beaumont and Rebecca Sherren taking firsts in both the free style and medley relays. The 12/13 years relay team of Emma Bysouth, Lydia Ratcliff, Frances Goss and Lily Russell-Wilkes also took first place in the free style.

  The Gala included some unusual relay events. The mixed age group Breaststroke Relay sponsored by The Stratford Herald was won by the Stratford A team of, Sophie Reynolds, Laura Bryan, Evie Gill, Megan Stanley, Fran Cassidy-Morris and Emma White. The mixed age Medley Canon Relay Accountax Services Ltd trophy was won by the Kingsbury Aquarius team. The mixed age Butterfly Canon Relay sponored by the NFU Mutual produced a very exciting race with the Stratford A team of Sian Morris, Gwennan Williams, Evie Gill, Frances Goss, Grace Wright and Helen Livesey gaining a very close third place.

  In individual events Rebecca Sherren continued her end of season form taking individual first places with great swims in the 14/15 100 metre Freestyle and 100metres backstroke. First places also went to Emma White, open100metres breaststroke, Claire Bassinder, open 100metre Freestyle, Emma Bysouth, 12/13 years100metre freestyle and 10 year old Laura Bryon in the 2 lengths breaststroke. In what was a very high quality competition, the Sharks B team also had some great success, with Bryonie Owen, Imogen Flynn, Fay Tilstone and Caroline Cardwell all getting 4th place finishes in their individuals

  Both A and B teams produced great swims throughout the evening especially amongst the younger swimmers, some of whom were swimming in one of their first galas. The 9 year old teams of Caitlin Stephenson, Sian Morris, Eleri Williams, Charlotte Inns swam powerfully to clinch 2nd place in the medlay relay and in the same race Molly Wright, Eleanor Bird, Kelly Greener and Danielle Brain produced an excellent 4th place. Plenty of prizes donated by a number of local companies were won by all teams and there was a constant supply of lollipops for all swimmers throughout the gala!

  The final score put Stourbridge in first place with 206 points with Stratford A a close second with 186 points. Stratford B came in 6th position. This was the first gala of its kind to be organised by Stratford Sharks and due to its great success it will no doubt be repeated next year. Club Chairman David Wright commented afterwards “This was a fantastic event that has involved both the local children and also local companies from the Stratford area. Our thanks go to our sponsors and the success of this event shows just how much local sport can benefit from the support of the business community”