Barracudas men bring home bulk of the points

CAN we gain promotion to the Premier Division next year? That is the question the Barracudas are asking themselves as they prepare to embark on the third and final round of the National Speedo League Division One.

The second round saw the Barracudas place second in their group behind overall South-West League leaders City of Oxford.

Competing in their home pool on a postal basis the Barracudas scored 199 points with Oxford on 253. Chesham placed third with 188 points.

The men's open section was responsible for securing a huge number of points for the Barracudas as they placed in all their events.

Thomas Hollingsworth set the ball rolling, winning the 100m individual medley in 1-00.92, over four seconds ahead of his nearest rivals from Oxford and Newbury. He then went on to take the 100m butterfly in an excellent time of 58.45.

Jonathon Le Noury won the 100m backstroke while Ian Hubert took the 100m freestyle.

Matthew Robert placed third in the breaststroke and in a time of 53.54 the four men also won the medley relay and with the assistance of Peter Druckes and Jack Le Poidevin went on to take the 6 x 50m freestyle relay title.

In the 13 years and under age group Matthew Allen and Katie Salmon both won their individual breaststroke events.

In the 15 years and under section Robyn Le Friec swam an excellent 100m butterfly to record 1-08.48, her nearest rival from Newbury having posted a distant 1-14.86.

City of Oxford now top the league on 12 points, Bracknell, Southampton and Amersham lie in joint second on 11, while the Barracudas, Basingstoke, Winchester and Chesham come next with nine each.

The Barracudas will travel to Waterlooville for round three of the competition on 11 December where they will meet Havant and Waterlooville, Chesham, Alton and District, Newbury and old friends, Jersey.

With university students available for this match, including Gail Strobridge, the Barracudas go into the next round ever hopeful.