GSC third going into final round

THE Guernsey Swimming Club have had an excellent set of results from the first two rounds of the National Speedo League. Competing in their home pool and submitting the results by post, the R. G. Falla-sponsored squad now find themselves third in South-West Division Two for the final round.

In the first round, competing against Farnham, Feltham, Hart, Wey Valley and Chichester, the squad found themselves up against unknown opposition.

Swimming without two of the top male swimmers - Ben Lowndes was away with work and Matt Butt was the victim of a virus that badly affected his knee - the squad was determined to gain as many points as possible.

The GSC were to win the first four events, Christine Hume and Craig Angell both being individual winners of the open 100m individual medley. The latter was also to win the open freestyle and Hume the open breaststroke events.

The next two firsts came courtesy of the under 12 years freestyle relay teams.

The girls - Ellie Ogier, Florence Le Couteur, Brodie Bayes and Sophie Lythgo - won by two seconds and the boy's team - Brandon Ferbrache, Luke Winberg, Pierce Gregory and Aaron Mahieu - had a closer battle on their hands, winning in a time of 1-40.50 with Hart second in 1-05.35.

Other relay victories came from the girls' open medley, as well as the 12-years-and-under girls and boys who repeated their success in the medley events.

Along with Hume and Angell, the only other swimmer to do the double and win both his events was Winberg, taking the 12-years-and-under butterfly and freestyle.

Other individual winners were Ogier in the under-12 girls' 50m backstroke, Gregory in the under-12 boys' 50m backstroke, Sam Herridge in the open 100m butterfly, Fay Sheppard in the under-16 100m butterfly, Jo Laine in the girls' open 100m backstroke and Sophie Castle in the girls' open 100m freestyle.

Overall, the GSC had 17 first places and 11 seconds with a total of 229 points, in second place to Hart with 251.

Due to an administrative delay, the full results of the second round have not been received.

However, up against West Wight, Farnham, Gosport Dolphins, Locks Heath and the Isle of Wight, the GSC squad won the round with 227 points with West Wight in second place with 203.5.

With the final round taking place at Waterlooville on Saturday, the GSC know that their opposition will again be West Wight and Hart, as well as Littlehampton, Worthing and Bognor Regis.