Sutton Relay Gala 14/01/2012

Once upon a time a group of enthusiastic swimmers set out for a swimming gala at Sutton.
The gala only had 35 races so everyone thought they would not be late home…………. But that wasn’t to be the case.

The gala had gremlins at work…………….

We started almost 30 minutes late because of wobbly blocks and lane ropes which all had to be tightened, and then followed confusion about the first two races. Once we got underway things got “better” until the starting beep machine got wet and gave up, lucky there was a whistle in the building sot things could continue. KSC eventually secured 2nd place with 146 points behind Sutton who scored 152 points.

Here are a few comments from the gala, all of which have been mentioned to the swimmers

• “Thanks” to all of the swimmers in the first 2 races who just dived in and made it up as they went, and still secured first places in a weird medley relay
• I would like to say “great job” to Niamh Skellet who overcame her nerves after falling in at the start of her first race. She swam fab in her other races, despite losing something every time she swam, hat, followed by goggles, that girl needs some KSC waterproof glue!
• Well done to my clipboard which did by far the best dive of the evening, when it landed in the water after “falling” from my hand
• Congratulations to all those who took part in the backstroke relays…………. We only had one crash - which was truly remarkable
• It was an excellent performance from the “swim cap” which was shared between 2 swimmers (you know who you are), as it was tugged and pulled on and off heads all night, why an excellent performance I hear you ask – well it didn’t rip and it lives to swim another day.
• Well done to Louis Peabody who managed to finish his race whilst trying to drink most of the pool water doing Butterfly – is that a new event Louis?
• Fab job by our 10yr old boys consisting of Aiden Williamson, Morgan Gallimore, Luke Snowden and Matthew Shipley – who swam so fast in the freestyle and backstroke relays, that they got a speeding ticket – but no points xx
• It was good to see some of our swimmers stretching and limbering up before their races, Ryan, Charly, Ben………. (note to self – stand well clear of any swimmers completing stretching excersises at next gala – some of these swimmers will know why I say this.)
• Thanks to all the parents in the audience for their support, it was good to see so many laughing throughout the gala, I think they were laughing with us and not at us.
• Well done to the boys open age group, (Robert Swinburne, Ben Barsby, Dan Knowles, Chris Hemstock, and James Lickley) who secured 1st place in 4 out of 5 of their relays, and to the girls 14/U fly relay team, (Mollie Wright, Jade Duffy, Ellie Poxon and Josie Henderson,) the girls open age medley relay team (Emma Clements, Robyn Beecham, Lizzie Shaw and Lauren Wright) and the boys 12/U Backstroke relay team (Callum Williamson, Ryan Pigott,Greg Brown and Sam McGrenaghan) all of whom got a first place for one of their relays.
• Finally thanks to the officials, timekeepers and Team manager for joining the mayhem

After a long and tiring night the gala was over and everyone went home and they all lived happily ever after

The End

Sharon (Alan’s YTS trainee)