THE third and final round of the 2011 Lincolnshire Swimming League saw Gainsborough Dolphins travel to the eight lane pool at the Meridian Leisure Centre in Louth. Competing against a near full strength defending champions Lincoln Vulcans ‘A’, Cleethorpes and Scunthorpe Aquatics (CASA), Louth, South Lincs, Grantham, Lincoln Vulcans ‘B’ and the City of Lincoln Pentaqua (CLP) it pitted the best of the County against each other in a gala full of very competitive races. As expected Vulcans ‘A’ and CASA dominated the proceedings resulting in Dolphins battling with Louth for third place, a contest they unfortunately lost as the Gainsborough outfit had to settle for a very satisfying fourth place on the night and in the final league table. The strength Dolphins have in the younger ages of the Club was again apparent as the boys and girls 10 years age groups were in outstanding form. Only two victories were secured on the night and these both fell in this category as Shannon Conway won her 50m butterfly and Ben Ambrose was victorious in the 50m breaststroke. In the boys 10 years James Beresford finished second in the 50m backstroke and third in the 50m butterfly and alongside Ben Crookes and Toby Sutherland they claimed two impressive second places in the boys 10 years freestyle and medley relay events. Grace Tooke swam superbly in the girls 50m breaststroke to achieve third place and along with Shannon, Molly Creed and Katie Bindon this quartet emulated the boys with second places in both their relays. 12 year old Loveday Beresford claimed two second places on the night in the girls 12/U 50m butterfly and freestyle with Henry Cawte and Aarron Smith also placing second in the boys 14/U 100m breaststroke and butterfly respectively. Despite a personal best time in the Mens Open 100m freestyle James Smith had to settle for third as did Robyn Dand in the Ladies Open 100m backstroke. Ewan McKay recorded Dolphins only other third place in the boys 12/U 50m breaststroke whilst an unfortunate disqualification in the 50m butterfly cost him second place. Individual fourth places were achieved by David Trickett (Mens Open 100m breaststroke), Charlotte Smith (girls 12/U 50m backstroke), Ben Crookes (boys 10yrs 50m freestyle), Molly Creed (girls 10yrs 50m freestyle) and Katie Bindon (girls 10yrs 50m backstroke). Special mention to all the other Dolphin swimmers – Bradley Janney, Georgia McKay, Amy Evans, Heather Cooke, Rebecca Codd, William Walmsley, Emily Wright, Will Cawte, Pete Trickett, Tonicha Watson, Sophie Blades, Cammron Bower, Hollie Watkins, Lydia Waring, George Tooke and Aysha Simpson whose magnificent efforts all contributed to the final standings. A huge thank you from the Club to all the parents and supporters and all the volunteers in their various capacities on the night. Final result: 1st Lincoln Vulcans ‘A’ 314 points; 2nd CASA 273; 3rd Louth 241; 4th Gainsborough Dolphins 214; 5th Grantham 197; 6th South Lincs 170; 7th CLP ‘A’ 148; 8th Lincoln Vulcans ‘B’ 135.
