Relay stars see Beausie Barracudas in top flight
THE Beau Sejour Barracudas have gained promotion to the premier division of the National Speedo League after competing in the third and final round of Division One South at the Quays pool, Southampton.
THE Beau Sejour Barracudas have gained promotion to the premier division of the National Speedo League after competing in the third and final round of Division One South at the Quays pool, Southampton. Bracknell and Woking, Basingstoke Blue Fins A, Havant and Waterlooville, Fareham Nomads and the host club, City of Southampton, completed the six-team line-up.
'This was a really exciting and close competition, which brought out the best in the Barracudas,' said coach Alison Frankland.
'We knew it would be tough but a brilliant team effort from both junior and senior team members gave us the result we had hoped for.
'We now join top teams from the south west in the premier division and look forward to taking up the challenge in 2006.'
There were some excellent performances in the opening events from the Barracudas but with strong opposition coming from Bracknell, who held on to their early lead, it was clear that the second promotion spot was between the City of Southampton and the Barracudas.
Going into the final relay events, and with Southampton three points ahead, the Sarnians swam out of their skins to win three of the eight relays and place second in three to boost their final points tally.
The performances in the final relays placed the Barracudas just six points ahead of Southampton and so claimed that all-important promotion spot.
Swimmers were restricted to two individual events in their respective age groups and there was a double win for 15-year-old Jeremy Osborne.
He came home first in the 100m freestyle and butterfly, recording times of 53.89 and 1-00.73 respectively.
Single wins went to Jonathon Le Noury in the men's open 100m backstroke (59.93), Tom Hollingsworth in the 100m butterfly (58.57) and 10-year-old Luke Belton in the 50m breaststroke (42.86).
There were commendable performances in all the relay events, in particular the 11-years-and-under girls team made up of Kristina Neves, Cody Butcher, Rosie Grimes and Jodie Rawles, the boys 11-years-and-under, Charlie Spano, Jamie Salmon, David Hall, Joe Ogier and Luke Belton, and the boys 15-years-and-under, Jeremy Osborne, Matthew Allen, Edward and James Dickinson, who scored maximum points for the Barracudas.
Final points: Bracknell and Woking 226; Beau Sejour Barracudas 210; City of Southampton 204; Basingstoke Blue Fins 148; Havant and Waterlooville 147; Fareham Nomads 113.
