Barracudas third on Division One debut

BEAU Sejour Barracudas Swimming Club made its debut in South-West Division One of the National Speedo League, placing third in their group in the first round. Virtually every club in the country takes part in the league, which is structured regionally. The winner of each regional premier division competes in the national final.

The league consists of sprint events in 11-and-under, 13-and-under, 15-and-under and open age categories. Swimmers are limited to two individual events in their age group but may swim 'up' in a higher age group or open.

As the cost of travel is prohibitive, Channel Islands teams are permitted to swim the first two rounds in their home pool.

Tigers (Jersey) are competing this year in the Premier League for the first time, Jersey SC join the Barracudas in Division One while the Guernsey Swimming Club make their debut in Division Two.

Having gained promotion from Two at the end of last season, the Barracudas faced the challenge with enthusiasm.

The going was tough, with City of Southampton winning the group with 229 points ahead of Basing-stoke and District on 201. Barracudas amassed 178, one point ahead of Winchester Penguins on 177, while Eastleigh and Littlehampton were fifth and sixth respectively.

Maximum points were hard to come by but Joshua Lewis in the 11-and-under age group won both his events. He took the 50m backstroke in 38.98 and the 50m freestyle in an outstanding time of 31.67. His nearest rival from Winchester Penguins over two seconds back.

The only other first place went to Tom Hollingsworth in the men's open butterfly when he touched in 59.10. His time of 1-01.48 in the 100m IM gave him second place, earning the Barracudas another five points.

A further five went to the men's open medley team in which Hollingsworth swam the butterfly leg with Jonathon Le Noury on backstroke, Matthew Robert on breaststroke and anchor man Ian Hubert on the freestyle.

They recorded 54.02 just behind City of Southam-pton who took the honours.

In their individual events, Le Noury placed second in the men's 100m backstroke with Robert and Hubert placed third in 100m breaststroke and 100m freestyle respectively. The men's freestyle team also gained third place in the 6 x 50m freestyle relay.

The 13-and-under boys' medley team, comprising James Jurkiewicz, Jeremy Osborne, Matthew Allen and James Dickinson, swam an excellent event to place second to Eastleigh in a time of 58.16. Allen's individual 100m breaststroke earned the team another five points as did Osborne's 100m butterfly.

Robyn Le Friec's 1-08.76 in the 100m butterfly and Rachel Le Page's 1-24.26 in the 100m breaststroke also gave them second place.

Eighteen clubs compete in South-West Division One. After round one, the Barracudas lie in eighth place. Top of the league are City of Oxford, ahead of City of Southampton in second. Jersey currently are 12th.

Round two takes place nexzt weekend when the Barracudas will swim against league leaders City of Oxford, together with Newbury, Chesham, Chalfont Otters and Littlehampton.