Weston Swimming Club relinquished their Southern Junior League title at Littledown Centre, Bournemouth.

WESTON Swimming Club relinquished their Southern Junior League title at Littledown Centre, Bournemouth, despite a fighting performance.

When the first points total was announced (after 13 events) Weston were placed fifth with 26 points (12 behind the nearest team and way behind Bournemouth, 51 points).

There were three super first places for the 10 year medley relay team of Charlotte, Bethan, Rachel and Freya, the 12-year-old medley quartet of Flo, Chloe, Lauren and Jessie, and the first individual win of the night was by Immy in the 50m backstroke.

There was also a great second place by the girls’ 11-year-old freestyle relay team (Alice, Rachel, Immy, Jessie) and a super third from Caitlyn in the nine years 25m freestyle.

By the halfway mark, despite a fantastic first place for Lauren in the 12 year 50m fly, Weston were still nine points adrift at the bottom. The toughness of competition was exposed in the 12 year 50m freestyle, where a phenomenal 31 second swim by Flo was only good enough for third place.

A fightback was ably led with a super second for Jackson (25m back) and a fabulous first for Rachel (50m fly). Other fine results were a third for Jessie (32.0 for 50 free), second for Chloe (50m breast), second for Caitlyn (25m fly), a first for Rachel (50m free).

This good run of results meant that after 40 of the 49 events, Weston had overtaken Keynsham and were now lying fourth.

It all came down to the last eight relays and the ultimate climax, the canon. Finishes in fourth and fifth were becoming too common and points were going elsewhere. A second for the girls’ 11 year medley team of Immy, Jessie, Rachel and Alice was scant reward.

Great work by the 11 year old boys, culminated in Max swimming 25m, jumping out and then straight back for another one. These were the demands of swimming up an age group.

In the canon, an 8x25m relay, there were great swims by Caitlyn, Jackson, Rachel, Harry, Jessie, Bradley, Flo and Will brought Weston home in third place.

Final standings: Swim Bournemouth 225; Seagulls 202; SX3 A 198; Weston 172; Keynsham 168; Severnside Tritons DNS.

Congratulations go to all the swimmers who competed in any of the three SJL rounds at Hutton Moor, Swindon or Bournemouth. There were some amazing efforts all round and full credit to lots of the boys swimming up so many times.