GAINSBOROUGH Dolphins claimed an outstanding fourth place in the third and final round of the Lincolnshire Junior League held recently at the brand new Pods Leisure Centre at Scunthorpe. The impressive new facility hosted its first competitive gala where the top six clubs in the county had qualified through the previous rounds to battle it out for the final standings of this year’s competition. With South Lincs swimming club withdrawing as they were unable to raise a team it meant a reprieve for Grantham SC to compete against the Gainsborough club, Lincoln Vulcans ‘A’, Cleethorpes and Scunthorpe Aquatics (CASA) ‘A’, Louth and City of Lincoln Pentaqua (CLP) ‘A’. The size of CASA and Lincoln Vulcans squads meant as predicted they were to battle it out for the right to be crowned champions with the fight behind them for the remaining positions. As with the Lincolnshire Senior League it left Dolphins with a head to head with Louth for the coveted third spot to which their rivals just edged. The 49 event gala brought plenty of excitement and close finishes with the Gainsborough outfit recording 20 top three finishes. Making it a hat-trick of wins over the three rounds 10 year old Ben Ambrose proved why he is number one ranked in the county in his age group as he romped home to win the 50m breaststroke. Dolphins managed only two other victories and these were achieved by James Beresford (boys 10/U 50m backstroke) and Ewan McKay (boys 11/U 50m butterfly). James also recorded a second place finish in the boys 10/U 25m butterfly whilst Ewan finished third in the boys 11/u 50m breaststroke. Alongside William Walmsley and Ben Ambrose both James and Ewan swam an excellent relay to finish second in the boys 11/U medley relay. The girls 9 years quartet of Chloe Huddart, Harriet Webster, Lucie Blades and Lily Talbot were just beaten into second place in both their freestyle and medley relays whilst Chloe gained two fantastic second places in her individual 25m freestyle and backstroke events with Harriet third in the 25m butterfly. 10 year old Shannon Conway was unlucky as two close finishes meant she placed second and third in the 25m butterfly and backstroke respectively. Shannon was joined by Katie Bindon, Molly Creed and Grace Tooke in the girls 10/U freestyle and medley relays as they secured third place in both whilst the boys squad of James Beresford, Ben Crookes, Ben Ambrose and Alex Berry matched this feat in their 10/U relay events. In her final Junior league 12 year old Loveday Beresford finished second in the girls 12/U 50m freestyle whilst she came in third in the 50m butterfly. Also in this age group Charlotte Smith placed third in the 50m backstroke with Lydia Waring also finishing third in the girls 11/U 50m breaststroke. The achievement on the night could not have been gained without the excellent performances of Zara Thomas, Ella Marsh, Thomas Humphreys, Zaki Thomas, George Tooke, Aidan Clover, Ethan Burton, Max Marshall-Malone, Declan Woodhead, Toby Sutherland, Hollie Watkins, Lucy Thornton and Dougie Watson. The Club would like to express their thanks to all the parents and supporters for their resounding support in the ridiculous heat as well as coaches Andy Crookes, Leanne Clover and Chris Webster, kiddie catcher Georgia McKay and time keepers Tony Bindon and Nic Clover. Final Result: 1st CASA ‘A’ 237 points; 2nd Lincoln Vulcans ‘A’ 212; 3rd Louth 168; 4th Gainsborough Dolphins 151; 5th CLP ‘A’ 141; 6th Grantham 99.
