Top gala beckons for BSB

BEAU SEJOUR BARRACUDAS placed second in their group of Division One in round two of the National Speedo League, putting them in the top gala for round three as hoped. Competing in their home pool on a postal basis, they scored 217.5 points behind overall league leaders Bracknell and Wokingham, who finished on 265. Newbury placed third with 158 ahead of Alton and District, Hamble Aquatics and Slough and Eton Dolphins.

Maximum points were scored by Thomas Hollingsworth in the open 100m butterfly, where he recorded 58.37. He also placed second in the 100m IM just fractions behind the representative from Bracknell and Wokingham.

In the 15-and-under age group, Robyn Le Friec and Jeremy Osborne placed first in the 100m butterfly and freestyle recording 1-10.23 and 54.79 respectively.

Joshua Lewis powered home in the 100m freestyle for the 13-and-under age group in an excellent time of 1-02.54, while in the youngest age group, 11 and under, David Hall placed first in the 50m freestyle in 32.51.

The under-11 years' relay team set off with Hall on backstroke, Luke Belton took the breaststroke leg, Joe Ogier on butterfly and Charlie Spano on freestyle to finish over a second ahead of their nearest rivals to take another important first place for the Barracudas.

Finally the men's open 6 x 50m freestyle relay was another win for the Barracudas with Ian Hubert, Ross Yeates, Paul Adkins, Osborne, Hollingsworth and Jonathon Le Noury combining to take the title in 2-33.28 from group leaders Bracknell and Wokingham.

The Barracudas will now travel to Southampton on 10 December for the third and final round of the league in which they have made selection for the top group in Division One.

They will compete against Southampton, Bracknell and Wokingham, Basingstoke Bluefins, Fareham Nomads and Havant and Waterlooville.

This event will be crucial if the Barracudas are to gain promotion to the Premier Division: only two teams from Division One South-West will go up at the end of the match.

Currently Bracknell and Wokingham and Southampton top the league with 12 league points, while the Barracudas and Southampton are joint third on 11 points.

Jersey Swimming lie in 14th position with four points.

Bottom of the league in joint 17th are Rushmore Royals B and Reading B.