Winsford Swimming Club

On Saturday 13th November Winsford Swim Team made the short journey to Macclesfield to race in the second round of the North West Arena Premier League. After the first round was cancelled in October this was our first outing since Covid and our one and only shot to try and make the A Final. 

The format has changed this year due to Covid, with mixed relays being brought in to reduce the number of swimmers each team requires. However everything else was the same with a superb atmosphere, outstanding team spirit, which in my opinion we have the best, and some very fast and exciting racing.

The night was an absolute thrill, with race after race of close finishes, twists and turns with the mixed relays allowing for changes in position on a frequent basis, and some sheer guts and determination to get to that wall first. Winsford over the night achieved an amazing 30 top 3 placings, out of a possible 42 events. This just shows the strength in depth we have across the ages and genders, it was a truly phenomenal all-round performance from our well trained, well disciplined swimmers. 

Special mention has to go to our swimmers who gained 1st place, Sophie George in the Girls 15 Under 100 Butterfly, and Lois Inch in the Girls 15 Under 100 Breastroke. But as mentioned above it was the sheer relentlessness of picking up top 3 placings which gained us the result we thoroughly deserved on the night.

After 42 Events the points were as follows:

1st Stockport Metro: 215

2nd City of Salford: 166

3rd WINSFORD: 160

4th Wrexham: 128

5th Trafford Metro: 127

6th Hoylake: 83

We will now wait and see if our result tonight gains us a place in the final, we hope it will but hopefully we will find out very soon. Please, please, please keep the date of the final free as we want to take a full team and give our very best.

Congratulations again to all who represented Winsford Swim Team tonight at Macclesfield. The team spirit was literally off the charts, our supporters were as always outstanding, with cheers, horns and constant shouts of “come on Winsford”, which made a huge difference, the whole atmosphere was one of togetherness and an attitude of we fight for Winsford, we fight for our team, which was so pleasing to see.

Every swimmer contributed to our result tonight, those who raced, those who attended as reserves, and those who did not get selected. I say this all the time but it is the competition within the club that makes us improve both in training and competition. So thank you to all swimmers who train and race for our great club.

Final thanks to our officials Karen Kud and Michael George, check recorder Andy Jones, all our returning University swimmers, Ethan Wright (Bangor), Henry Oliver (Sheffield), Jay Cushen and Will Murray (both Leeds), your willingness to come back and represent us is greatly appreciated. Thanks to all our reserves who didn’t swim but came to support our team and did an amazing job of cheering our swimmers on from the shallow end, Fraser McVicar, Adam Brown, Alfie Bloor, Eleanor Ma, Ciaran Turner and Izzy Whittle, and to Jess Goldsmith who stepped up superbly well into the team, and finally to our 2 fantastic team managers Claire Brown and Sue Wright who organised our troops superbly well, the organisation as always was first class, they also deserve a medal for trying to deal with me!

We now look forward to the A Final (touch wood), thank you again to everyone, an outstanding team effort, you should all be very proud. I know our army of Winsford supporters will now be making plans for the final, with banners, horns and flags. I know our supporters will blow the roof off with their cheers and support for our team, it fills me with tremendous joy hearing our supporters and swimmers cheer for our team.

Winsford Swim Team Representatives:

Kate Schillinger, Jess Goldsmith, Jack George, Harry Jones, Ruby Thomas, Izzy Fletcher, Amelia Fitzgerald, Jack Wheeler, Harry Bloor, Henry Ball, Cillian Wilkes, Carys Roberts, Sophie George, Amy Kenworthy, Lois Inch, Adam Wright, Lewis Turner, Sophie Grindley, Izzy Burton, Jonny Mullett, Jay Cushen, Henry Oliver, Tom Kud, Ethan Wright, Ethan Jones, Will Murray.

Great job everyone, Sunday 12th December (probably if we make A Final) please keep this date free. See you at the pool.

Dan.