2007 Results
On 11th May 2008, the Clubs 'A' Team had a 4.30am start, to get to Sheffield to swim in theh 'B'Final. Cardiff were drawn in lane 4 against nine other clubs, including old rivals from the Western League heats, namely Taunton Deane, Ferndown and Bournemouth Dolphins. (Millfield and Plymouth Leander both qualified for the 'A' Final). The teams can be seen below.
| Club |
League |
| Nottingham Leander |
East Midlands |
| Ealing |
London |
| Leatherhead SC |
South |
| Cardiff |
Western |
| Bracknell & Wokingham SC |
South |
| Ferndown |
Western |
| City of Salford |
North West |
| Bournemouth Dolphins |
Western |
| Taunton Deane |
Western |
| City of Derby |
West Midlands |
After 50 events, and some excellent swims, the City of Cardiff finished first with 320 points. Second place was taken by Ealing, and third by Nottingham Leander (both with 297 points). Congratulations to all the team.
Although it was very much a team effort, special mentions go to Robbie Burns and Ieuan Lloyd who were designated the most improved swimmers in the 13-and-under and 15-and-under age groups respectively. Additional individual winners on the day included Tom Haffield in the 200 metres open individual medley and the100 metres open backstroke (Tom will be competing for Great Britain this summer in the Olympic Games), Ieuan Lloyd in the 15-and-under100 metres freestyle and Robbie Burns in the 13-and-under 100 metres freestyle. Winning relay teams included the boys 15-and-under medley relay team (comprising Ieuan Lloyd, Alex Finn, Chris Watts and Tom Newby) and the girls 15-and-under medley relay team (comprising Hannah Kane-Roberts, Sam Ventrice, Robyn Ventrice and Sian Harkin).
Second places were gained by Sian Harkin in the 13-and-under 100 metres freestyle, Ieuan Lloyd in the 15-and-under 100 metres butterfly, Robbie Burns in the 13-and-under 100 metres butterfly and Alex Finn in the15-and-under 100 metres breaststroke. Furthermore, the 11-and-under boys freestyle team (containing Aeron Campell, Liam Rees, Jacob Watkins and Tom Sharp), the 15-and-under boys freestyle team (including Tom Newby, Alex Finn, Chris Watts and Ieuan Lloyd), and the 13-and-under girls freestyle team (comprising Sophia Pauley, Vicky Jones, Seren Jones and Sian Harkin) also gained second places in their respective races.
Third places went to Gareth Cocks in the open 100 metres butterfly, Imogen Pauley in the 11-and-under 50 metres butterfly, Sam Ventrice in the open and the 15-and-under 100 metres breaststroke and Bethan Thomas in the open 100 metres freestyle. The open age women’s medley relay team of Stella Lancey, Sam Ventrice, Robyn Ventrice and Bethan Thomas also gained a third placing.
You can download the team sheet and the results by clicking on the respective links.
Unfortunately, as you may or may not be aware, there were issues with the licensing of the finals. The matter was raised at a meeting of the ASA TSC and they refused to grant a licence for the events.
The times cannot, therefore, be used for entry into National Championships. The results have been included in Rankings so that they may be used for Talent Progression etc. They have to be given a Level and have been given a Level 4 classification for this purpose only.
Ian Mackenzie, secretary of the National Speedo Swimming League has said "I am sorry that this will disappoint many of your swimmers but my hands are tied. The gala was run in accordance with Licence level one conditions other than the age at date situation. The committee wishes that the league swims the rounds at the last date of the rounds with the final as at the date of the final, two separate dates. This in my view is two separate competitions but if anyone has a solution how we can move this forward for the future, please let me know."