Winsford Best Ever Finish in the NW Arena Premier League A Final 2018
Congratulations to all swimmers who represented Winsford Swim Team in the North West Premier League A Final on Sunday 9th December at Blackpool. This was our seventh year in the Premier League of which in five of those we have made the A Final against the best clubs in the NW of England. This year we were absolutely determined to firstly gain our best ever position (not 8th please God!) and secondly to gain our best ever points total and I am happy to report we did both, get the flip in!
The racing on the night was tremendous from all clubs with so much talent on show, but this report is about our swimmers and our club and needless to say we stepped up to every plate, we raced superbly well gaining 6 top 3 places and an enormous number of 4th-6th place finishes. It was a challenging start with us lying in 8th place after 18 races but we seemed to find our stride and came on really strong as the gala developed, after 50 events we were so very close to 6th placed Preston. After 50 very hard races Winsford achieved a fantastic 7th place finish, our best ever placing, and we accumulated 176 points which again was our best ever total. What a fantastic achievement for our club and our swimmers for us to compete against much larger city's and metros, it was truly brilliant.
There was a lot what impressed me tonight but what impressed me most as always was the attitude of all our swimmers, every single swimmer gave their heart, soul and spirit to the cause today in Blackpool, it was an absolute pleasure to be Head Coach of so many talented swimmers all fighting tooth and nail in every single race. What is exciting is that for many of our swimmers they were swimming in the lower part of their age group so next year it could be even better because all will be a year older, bigger, stronger and ultimately faster.
I have to say a huge thank you to our supporters on the balcony, what a tremendous performance from you all. So many wearing orange, flags and banners everywhere that is what sets us apart is the support and togetherness we have at OUR club. The roar from the crowd was out of this world when our name "Winsford" was announced. What did strike a cord with me was the shouts of encouragement when we needed it most, it is easy to support when things are going well but it is crucial to hear that support when we needed it. Thank you so much, your support from the balcony and the support we received from all Coaches, Team Managers and swimmers pool side helped us to again gain the Presidents Trophy of Best Supported Club, well done to one and all.
This now brings me onto our team managers and coaches who were fantastic tonight but not only tonight but in every round and in fact at every meet we take part in. I am not daft I know my behaviour is completely and utterly erratic at times, I know I am difficult to be around when we are in the thick of the action but all our managers/coaches do a fantastic job of keeping me sane and do an unbelievable job of supporting our swimmers. I know for a fact our swimmers would not do half as good without the support from our team managers and coaches, thank you so much. I have to say though I have not got a clue what type of demon possessed our team managers bodies to force you wear such head gear whilst poolside, as someone said on the coach on the way home maybe the chloramines we have been sniffing these last few weeks have made you go a bit do-lally!! It was fun though and I am sure Sue will be kind enough to put a photo of the three team managers on the website to go along with the report! [Edit:Helen made us do it!!]
The Results on the night were:
1st: Stockport Metro 342
2nd: Southport 238
3rd: City of Salford 237
4th: Warrington 234
5th: Wigan 215
6th: Preston 190
7th: WINSFORD 176
8th: Isle of Man 165
Top 3 Placings were:
Jay Cushen (15 Under) 1st 100 Butterfly, 1st 100 Breastroke,
Jonny Mullet (15 Under) 1st 100 Freestyle
Izzy Kay (15 Under): 3rd 100 Butterfly.
Will Murray (open): 3rd 100 Breastroke.
Boys (15 Under) Free Relay: 3rd Jay Cushen, Jonny Mullett, Rory Armitt, Harvey Zwijnen.
The Results over the last seven years:
2018: A Final 7th 176 Points (BEST EVER PLACING & BEST EVER POINTS!)
2017: A Final 8th 155 Points
2016: A Final 8th 160 Points
2015: B Final 10th overall
2014: A Final 8th 136 Points
2013: B Final 9th Overall
2012: A Final 108 Points
I have already thanked our supporters, team managers and coaches but I would like to pay a special mention to Adam Brown who came into the team at last minute and to all our University swimmers Adam Poole (Lincoln), Georgia Williams (Sheffield) and Grace Farr (Birmingham) who traveled long distances to be with us today, thank you. As always a massive thank you to Julie Kay, Debra Thomson and Michael George who were our judges for the evening. Of course the final thank you goes to our swimmers, so very proud of each and every one of you, every single swimmer did amaaaaaazing as Craig from Strictly dancing would say! Our swimmers were superbly supported by our Captains (Izzy, Domi, Adam and Nick) as Len again from dancing would say, "it's a ten from Len", great work captains! It was such a fun day, but that is what this club is about fun, fun, fun and more fun everybody for miles around know how much fun we have, even other coaches and people from other clubs make comments about the famous fun we have on a daily basis! But we don't just have fun we have a steely determination to be the best we can be, we are the only club in East and West Cheshire who are year on year in the North West Premier League and not only that but consistently reaching the A Final being placed in the top 8 in the North West of England. It has been a fantastic last seven years for us and there is no doubt in my mind Winsford Swim Team will go onto even greater things in the future.
WELL DONE TO THE WHOLE OF THE WINSFORD SWIM TEAM.
As always a quote to finish and for me probably one of the best sporting quotes ever!
"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" Vince Lombardi. We are all in this sport to try our very best to win, gain medals, achieve PBs, better ourselves but do it whilst having lots of fun. Today was brilliant fun, as Russell Crowe said in the Gladiator film "Are you not entertained?", yes today was certainly entertaining for everyone.
Next year the target is a top 6 finish. I know we can achieve that because we will all work together as a team.
See you in the Bromine "no coughing" Pool!
Thanks
Dan.
PS: Rocky Roads are BOSS!!!
Final Round Splits - although official times will be posted by the Arena League and the event was licensed so individual swims count.
