The Coventry & District Championships are held over 3 weekends in October, Stratford Sharks sponsored by Sitel had a large contingent with 30 swimmers taking part in various events over the 3 weeks setting 16 new club records and several personal best times. The championship consists of 50m, 100m & 200m events in all strokes with finals in the 50m & 100m distances.

  Week 1 started well with Jonathan Tanner 13/14yrs getting 2nd & Joe Allen 15/over finishing 6th in their 100m Fly finals. The girls then took over with Charli Cassidy-Morris and Emma White both making the final for the 13/14yrs girls 50m back finishing 4th & 6th respectively. Emily Key 6th & Katie Pavel 4th started their campaigns convincingly in the 13/14yrs & 15/over 100m backstroke finals. The 9/10yrs girls 50m back was a hard fought contest with Imogen Cork, Rebecca Tame & Georgina Mackey all making the final they all got a p.b. finishing 1st, 5th & 8th respectively. In the 15/over Katie Pavel improved on her earlier 4th place to come 3rd. In the boys 50m Back Jonathan Tanner who started the day with a 2nd also improved with a 1st in a tough fought final and Robert Jolly finished 5th in the 15/over.

  The 400m IM only heralded 2 swimmers Lawrie Mills & Grace Wright both swimmers took 5th place in this gruelling event with Lawrie also setting a new Club record. The girls 100m Fly again saw swimmers in the final with Emma Bysouth 11/12yrs finishing 8th, Emma White 5th & Grace Wright 8th in the 13/14yrs final.

  Week one finished with the 200m Back for boys with Robert Jolly finishing 4th & Lawrie Mills 5th, for the girls it was the 200m Free with Emily Key taking 1st place with a new CR.

  The team were determined to start the way they finished week 1 and as always their efforts in training were evident as four girls made the 13/14yrs 100m Breaststroke Final Emma White finished 1st with a new CR, Claire Bassinder 3rd, Fay Malling 6th & 13yr old Fran Cassidy-Morris 8th. The boys started with the 50m Free Jonathan Tanner 6th in the 13/14yrs & Joe Allen 7th 15/over with a new CR.

  Lawrie Mills got a second club record & a 2nd place in the 13/14yrs 100m Back, while Robert Jolly was 4th in the 15/over. The girls 100m Free saw Emma Bysouth in the 11/12yrs final taking 6th place and Emily Key 1st with a CR & Claire Bassinder 4th in the 13/14yrs not to be left in the shade Carla Bosworth also took 1st place in a new CR time in the 15/over category.

  The girls 50m Fly was the final event of the day on week two and the girls once again had finalists with Emily Key, Emma White & Claire Bassinder finishing 2nd, 4th & 7th respectively & Carla Bosworth & Katie Pavel finishing the day with 2nd & 4th in the 15/over.

  The Sharks started where they left off for the final week with the girls 50m Free in the 9/10yrs Imogen Cork & in the 11/12yrs Harriet Beaumont both took 3rd and in the 13/14yrs three swimmers made the final, it ended in a 1st for Claire Bassinder with a new CR, Charli Cassidy-Morris took 6th and Grace Wright 8th, finally Katie Pavel fought hard to get 3rd in the 15/over with a p.b. The boys 1st event of the day saw Jonathan Tanner & Joe Allen continue their good form with a 3rd & 4th respectively in the 50m Fly finals.

  The girls were determined to have a notable day and the 50m Breast saw 5 swimmers making the final with Imogen Cork 2nd & Rebecca Tame 4th in the 9/10yrs, Claire Bassinder 1st in a new CR, Fay Malling 4th & Fran Cassidy-Morris 5th in the 13/14yrs, in the boys 50m Breast Daniel williams got 6th. The Boys continued with 100m Free as Jack Pilling got 6th in the 11/12yrs, Lawrie Mills was 2nd in the 13/14yrs & James Wardle who travelled back from University got 2nd in a new CR time with Joe Allen 8th in the 15/over. Grace Wright finished the final day with a 7th place in the 200m Fly.

  This was a successful Championship for Stratford Sharks and although not everyone made a final personal bests were achieved by Caroline Cardwell, Georgina Harrington, Katie Cardwell, Megan Stanley, Matt Williams, Joshua Walker, James Page, Tom Pilling, Natalie Smith & Frances Goss who also got a Club Record. Thanks to all swimmers and poolside helpers who helped make this event a success.