Winsford Swimming Club

On Saturday 11th November Winsford Swim Team made the relatively short journey to our second home Macclesfield, to race in round 2 of the NW Arena Premier League. For this round we were up against some very strong opposition but luckily the 3 teams who beat us last year in the final, Stockport Metro, Wigan and Salford were in the other draw, so we knew if we gave our very best performance there was a chance we could win the competition.

Before proceedings began everyone observed impeccably a 2 minute silence in respect for all who fought in the wars. It can never be emphasised enough how important our armed services are and what they did for us all so we can all enjoy events like tonight. After the 2 minutes silence of reflection the racing began in earnest and boy it certainly was one belter of a night. 

The atmosphere was incredible, with the orange army getting in early, and making a right old racket, it was phenomenal from all our supporters. Our swimmers arrived poolside and all were loving the new Winsford tattoos, I am not sure how they managed it, but certain individuals had a tattoo on their nose, weird I know! But not only this but we had swimmers in tutus, that type of thing is not for me but whatever makes them swim fast I can go with!

The racing on the night was absolutely brilliant, every single swimmer gave their very best, and again I thought we touched out so many swimmers in the final 5 metres which made a huge difference. Over the night the scores were extremely close with the standings changing all the way through the competition. However I am pleased to announce with the tremendous help from our supporters on the balcony, and the team on poolside we managed to win the whole competition on the night. A fantastic achievement for our swimmers and club and well deserved especially as our team was 100% Winsford, all swimmers were from our club, and all smashed the ball out of the park, as they say in the USA! A tremendous team effort, and tremendous team spirit. Swimming is a super fun sport but nothing beats team events like these, so much fun.

Female 13 Under Medley Relay: Freya Querelle, Kate Schillinger, Annabelle Chan, Serena Standring.

Female 16+ Medley Relay: Carys Roberts, Lois Inch, Sophie George, Eden Mankee.

Male 16+ Butterfly: Lewis Turner.

Female 10-11 Butterfly: Hattie Lawson.

Female 10-11 Breastroke: Hattie Lawson.

Female 16+ Freestyle: Carys Roberts.

Female 16+ Freestyle Relay: Carys Roberts, Amy Kenworthy, Sophie George, Eden Mankee.

1st: WINSFORD 312

2nd: Trafford Metro 302

3rd: Satellites of Macclesfield 266

4th: Warrington Warriors 251

5th: Altrincham 201

6th: Wrexham 200

7th: Southport 198

8th: Stretford 103

Many thanks to Izzy Burton for coaching and to Sue Wright, Claire Turner and Danielle Stonier for team managing, and to Stuart Fraser, Nickie Ma for officiating. Also thanks to Molly James for organising our Winsford tattoos, everyone loved them, no doubt we want them again for the finals. Also many thanks to Jack Finkemeyer for coming into the team and doing a tremendous job. I would also like thank Carla Jackson for coming to Macclesfield in capacity of captain and supporting everyone, and to Ethan Wright who again travelled back from the University of Bangor to represent us, greatly appreciated. Also what can I say about our supporters, magnificent and more of the same for the finals please. And the final thank you goes to our swimmers, I asked everyone to give it some welly and you all certainly did that, very proud of each and every one of you.

I would also like to say well done to all our swimmers who travelled to Kendal, another great result for Team Winsford.

Please can all swimmers keep the weekend of the 9th and 10th December free, we want to take a full team to the finals. If we can train hard in the next 4 weeks and and have a full team too select from I am positive we can finish the 2023 Arena League off with the biggest bang for both the Premier and Division 2 team. 

Well done again to one and all.

See you at the pool.

Dan.