Carol is Halton Borough Volunteer of the Year

Congratulations to Club Secretary Carol Hughes who has won the Halton Sports Partnership Volunteer of the Year award for 2011 at the prestigious Halton Sports Awards Evening at the Stobart Stadium, Halton on Thursday 22^nd September 2011.

This is such a well deserved award for all the hours of work that Carol puts into the club. The administration involved in running a modern swimming club is enormous and Carol this year carried the extra burden of guiding the club to a successful Swim 21 Renewal. Renewing our swim 21 credentials are vital for securing funding and ensuring the club is recognised by the National Governing Body - the ASA - as running a quality operation. Well done Carol, richly deserved.

Success at the Derrick Lodge Memorial Gala

The Club were honoured and delighted to receive an invitation from Liverpool Penguin SC and Bridgefield SC to compete in the Derrick Lodge Memorial Gala at Huyton over the weekend.

Derrick, who was a huge supporter of local swimming and an active member of Liverpool Penguin SC, Bridgefield SC and City of Liverpool Swimming Club, and was also a  National Technical Official of great stature, unfortunately died in 2009 following a short illness and an annual gala has been established in his honour and to celebrate his life in swimming. The gala was timed to coincide with the opening of the Competition Pool at the new Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park in Longview Drive in Huyton.

The event, attended by Derrick’s wife and family took place on the day before the official opening of the Huyton venue so the club were indeed privileged to be amongst the first to use the facilities.

Once the competition got under way The Halton Team (pictured below) were in fine form and took second place overall in an exciting and closely fought eight team gala with just 6 points separating 4^th from 2^nd .

The club also claimed the Derek Mears Cannon Trophy for a memorable win in the Boys Team Cannon event which was the last event of the gala. Pictured are Tom Roberts and Eleanor Donald picking up the Runners up Shield whilst Will Warburton and Will Woodward pick up the winners shield for the cannon event.

In addition to the victorious Boys Cannon team of  Will Woodward, Ben Lovell, Tom Roberts, Jamie Catharell, Tom Craig, Matty Marnell, Ste Bailey and Will Warburton, there were also individual wins for Will Woodward, Stacey King, Will Warburton, James Flaherty, Nikita Jackson, Tom Craig, Matty Marnell.

The Mixed Open Medley Relay Team of Lucy Wallbank, Stacey King, James Flaherty and Ste Bailey also took first place in their event.

There were excellent PB’s for Amy Steele, Tom Patton, Jess Donald, Morgan Grady, Paddy Clegg and Sarah Roberts.

Result: 1^st Penguins 294, 2^nd Halton 262, 3^rd Prescot 260, 4^th Garston 256, 5^th Bootle & North Liverpool 191, 6^th Ormskirk Otters 166, 7^th Bridgefield SC 138 & 8^th Crosby 96.

COLSC Echo Cup Update - Round 2

With the Team severely depleted through illness, injury and other commitments an extremely young and inexperienced Halton line up couldn’t quite manage enough points to qualify for the City of Liverpool Swimming Club Echo Cup Final over the weekend. The team finishing in 6^th Place in the first heat of Round 2 and having to settle for 10^th Place overall in the 12 team event.

Nevertheless there were some encouraging performances with excellent wins for Matty Sayle and Will Woodward in the 11 years and 10 years 50m Fly events respectively against tough competition. There were also personal best times for Issy Winckles, Jack Malabar, Sarah Roberts, Lucy Harris, Ryan Sanders, Jessie Stritch, Joseph Ware, Tom Craig, Sam Craig and Zara Cowan.

Result: 1^st Everton 204, 2^nd Crosby 200, 3^rd Hoylake 194, 4^th Bebington 173, 5^th Garston 144, 6^th Halton 112.

COLSC Tadpoles Update from Gala 2

Big Congratulations to Matty Sayle who continues to make excellent progress and who won the 11years 200m Butterfly event at Gala 2 in the Tadpoles competition. In a tough, endurance event even for experienced older swimmers, Matty took the gold medal in the event winning by an astonishing 31 seconds margin. An outstanding win.  Will Woodward chipped in with a great Silver medal in the Boy’s 10 Years 50m Breaststroke with a personal best performance and another outstanding performance came from Amy Steele who took a brilliant Bronze medal in the 11years 200m Breaststroke. 10 year old Amy, who is not 11 until later in the competition, held off the challenge of the older competition to take a well deserved third place in a time some 60 seconds better than her previous PB and this after posting another PB in the 400m Freestyle in an earlier event.

In another great advert for hard work, every Halton Swimmer attending gala 2 achieved new personal best times so a big huge well done to Alison Steele (7^th place 12 years), Eleanor Donald (6^th Place 11 Years), Sarah Roberts, Ceris Breckell. Amy Steele, Eleanor Moss and Beth Reid in the 400m Freestyle event.

Also great stuff from Ellie Jo Hughes, Skye Marsh, Mollie Hammerton, Zahra Groves and Leah Horabin who all achieved PB’s in the girls 50m Backstroke. Ryan Sanders, San Clayton and Will Woodward in the Boys 50m Breaststroke and  a mention too for Ceris Breckell, Eleanor Moss and Eleanor Donald for Pb’s in the 200m Breaststroke.

Halton Teams at the Prestige Gala

Once again, the club were invited to enter two teams in the Warrington Swimming Club Prestige Gala at the Woolston Community Hub last Sunday.

The Halton Green and Halton Blue teams, who had finished in joint second place in the Festival Gala in April,  were once again caught up in a battle for the trophy with St Helens SC.

Going in to the last event Halton Blue and St Helens SC were level on points with Halton Green just behind. In a close finish to the freestyle cannon St Helens SC took the trophy edging out Halton Blue with Halton Green in third place.

In a very entertaining gala, running two teams allows us to give competition experience to the maximum amount of swimmers and by making the teams evenly matched a little extra spice is added even if it does mean that splitting the points usually means we don’t actually win the gala.

Result: 1^st St Helens 179, 2^nd Halton Blue 176, 3^rd Halton Green 166, 4^th Warrington A 157, 5^th Warrington B 66.

Thanks & Regards,

PP. Neil F