Saturday saw the start of Stratford Sharks’ competitive league season with the first round of the Nuneaton Junior League in Nuneaton. This was a baptism of fire for Sharks ‘A’ Team, who, with a number of absentees and quite a few of the younger swimmers competing in their first Gala against some of the 1st divisions top teams found life tough, finishing 5th on the night. The only individual win of the night was Becky Tame who stormed home in the 11yr Girls 50m Breaststroke. Becky was joined by Frances Goss, Megan Stanley and Georgina Mackey to win the 11yr Girls Medley relay, with Lydia Ratclif taking Megan’s place in the freestyle relay to record their second relay win.

  Imogen Cork had an excellent 50m Breaststroke claiming second in the 12yr age group a feat matched by the 9yr Girls freestyle relay team of Lucy Tame, Laura Bryan, Emmy Shaddick & Gwennan Williams who showed their promise by also grabbing third in their Medley relay, Lucy swimming 4 fly races for the 9 & 10’s. . The 9yr boys of Zach Brough, William Benson, Josh Fell & James Hudson also performed well earning 2 fourth places in their relays.

  Third places went to Aaron Brough with a big PB in the 11yr Boys 50m Butterfly and a fourth in the Freestyle (both Club Records), Zach Brough in the 9yrs 25m Butterfly, Lydia Ratclif in both the 11 & 12 yr 50m Freestyle with two excellent swims and Joe Dancer in the 12yr Boys 50m Backstroke. The 12yr Girls Freestyle relay team of Imogen Cork, Katie Cardwell & Lydia Ratclif (again!) also produced the goods holding off the 3 teams behind them by only 15 one hundredths of a second.

  Josh Walker (club record in the 10yrs 50m Breaststroke), James Hudson, Georgina Mackey, James Page, Ben Lane, Lucy Tame & Harry Frankland all finished 4th earning much needed points. There were many other excellent swims on the night, virtually all the individual events producing PB’s and a special mention must go to those swimmers who stepped up from the ‘B’ team at the last minute and who swam superbly.