Stratford Sharks sent a strong squad of sixteen swimmers to the Lincoln Vulcans’ Open Meet at Ponds Forge, Sheffield at the weekend. For several of the swimmers, this was their first trip to what is probably Britain’s premier pool and an opportunity to test themselves against the best. The high-class competition attracted several of the country’s top swimmers and a haul of thirteen medals and numerous personal best times was testimony to the continued advancement of Stratford swimming.

  The team had a short wait for their first medal when fourteen-year-old Emma White touched third in the 100m breaststroke narrowly ahead of team mate Claire Bassinder. Whilst White went on to go one better and collect silver in the 200m breaststroke event, Bassinder endured more hard luck when she once again touched fourth in the 50m freestyle despite an excellent personal best swim.

  Lawrie Mills was competing on his fourteenth birthday and consequently had to move up into a higher and more competitive age group. Despite this he soon took his first medal in the 200m freestyle event, finishing in second place. A successful day later saw Mills demonstrate his all-round ability by adding a further silver medal in the 200m I.M. and two bronze medals in the 200m breaststroke and 100m freestyle.

  Stratford’s next podium position came courtesy of Emily Key who finished second in a competitive 50m freestyle event. Key later added bronze medals in the 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly before going on to secure the team’s only gold medal of the day with a fine swim in the 100m freestyle event.

  Later in the day, David Townsend and Jon Tanner joined the fray and their long journey was quickly rewarded. Townsend underlined the Shark’s fine sprinting form taking bronze in the 50m freestyle in a new p.b. time. The two boys then went head to head in the 100m butterfly with Townsend coming out on top taking an excellent silver medal ahead of a rapidly improving Tanner in bronze medal position.

  Ten-year-old Aaron Brough was one of the busiest Stratford swimmers, undertaking an arduous programme of events. Always renowned as a tough competitor, he underlined this with his best finish in the gruelling 200m butterfly, finishing just outside the medals in forth place. Brother Ben was in the highly competitive 12-year age group and a fine swim saw a day’s best performance of thirteenth in the 100m freestyle event.

  Rebecca Tame was another of Stratford’s young swimmers who emerged with credit from a busy day’s competition. Underlining strong potential for the future Tame showed excellent style and form to achieve a best of sixth place in the 200m breaststroke event with a fine personal best time. This achievement was later equalled by Emma Bysouth who also touched sixth in a fast 50m freestyle at age 11 and the same event saw Katie Pavel produce her best result finishing tenth in the 15/over age group.

  As ever, brothers Jack and Tom Pilling enjoyed their day’s swimming with Jack producing a best of 13th in a somewhat unfamiliar 100m breaststroke event. Tom found the going tough in a hugely competitive 15/over category but recorded a creditable time when touching 27th in the 100m butterfly for his best finish of the day. Sisters Charli and Fran Cassidy-Morris completed the Stratford contingent with a series of fine performances. Charli produced a day’s best of 14th in the 100m backstroke event whilst Fran rounded off her day with 11th place in the 200m breaststroke.

  This was a hugely successful gala for the Stratford team who showed once again that they are capable of competing with the best. A host of personal best times provided firm evidence that this pleasing medal tally will be built upon in the future. Whilst most of the squad made the long journey home, Emma White and Emily Key remained in Sheffield to compete for Warwickshire in the National Inter-counties competition. This impressive event sees many of Britain’s premier swimmers from thirty-seven counties compete in two concurrent galas in adjacent 25m pools.

  Both girls rose to the occasion producing personal best times and helping to secure the first division status of the Warwickshire team. Key touched fifth in her individual 100m freestyle event with White finishing thirteenth in the breaststroke, despite competing a year under age. The girls then went on to produce dynamic sprint performances in their respective medley relay events. On this occasion a strong leg by Emma White saw her team finish sixth, whilst Key anchored her team to seventeenth with a powerful freestyle leg.