Junior Fenland League, Boston 16th April 2005

This was a round of the Junior Fenland League, which unfortunately we cannot at this stage gain entry to (the league is full). We were invited by Boston to compete on a one off basis as there was a need to have a six team gala for the purpose of assessing new officials. It provided us with an opportunity to swim for PB's and to see how a current South Lincs team would compete in this type of "cut off" gala. The team was selected in accordance with the rules of the league even though we could not collect any points.

The League operates on a 5 lane basis with individual ages between 9 and 13. Each event (except the 9yr relays) has a "cut off" time which prevents any swimmer who is faster than the cut off, swimming that event. Even the squadron relay at the end cannot include a swimmer who is through the Freestyle cut off time for their age. I believe this format is ideal for swimmer development and my objective from a coaching perspective is to get swimmers through the cut off, hence giving another swimmer a chance in that event.

On the night we gained 26 PB's from 36 individual swims and achieved seven individual wins. Two swimmers who competed in the same event twice (different ages) managed to swim significantly faster than their old PB's twice but each time the second swim was slower and therefore cannot be classified as a PB.

Alex Wensor got us off to a great start in the first event winning the 12yr 100 I.M. Sully Stoner then won the 10yr 50 Breaststroke in event six, which was quickly followed by wins in the boys and girls 11yr 50 Fly for Michael Drakard and Heather Smith. Event fifteen saw the first of a "Double win" for Highbury Gay in the 10yr 50 Back which she followed up with a win in event 24 10yr 50 Free. Heather Smith gained her "Double" when she added the 11yr 50 Back, event 26 to her previous win.

We had a number of 2^nd places in the last third of the Gala but there were no more outright wins. We did manage 2^nd places in all of the relay events and the final race, the squadron relay was a close run thing against the gala winners Boston "A". Team spirit was excellent and everyone gave 100%, we would have finished 2^nd on the night to Boston "A" and as they are in contention to win the League this was an excellent achievement.

I would like to thank my two team Captains, Tom Maxey and Lauren Earth for their contribution and hopefully they were able to gain some additional experience and help to inspire their teammates. I would also like to remind swimmers that after they swim they should return to the coaching staff immediately for a "debrief". The reason for this is simply to give feedback from the swim whilst it is fresh in the minds of the Coaches.

My thanks to the parents for getting our swimmers to Boston and to our Officials and Team managers who helped on poolside (Including our team of Cheerleaders - Tori, Jade & Lauren)

Greg Marsters 17/04/05 (Mobile: 07836 212021)