Warriors off to flying start in national league (From Warrington Guardian)

Warriors off to flying start in national league

3:10pm Thursday 16th October 2008

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WARRIORS of Warrington won their first round of the National Swimming League at the weekend.

Warriors, who were only promoted to the Premier Division two years ago, swam some close-fought races and fielded a strong team.

Warriors recorded 12 first places, 16 second places and six third places in the 50-event gala at Macclesfield.

Notable performances came from the 13-year-old and under girls’ medley team who took control of the race from the start with a good backstroke leg from Rebecca Pye.

Caitlin McNicolas extended the lead before handing over to Aimee Harvey for the fly leg, with Catherine Parker’s freestyle bringing the team home with half a length to spare.

The boys’ 13-year-old and under medley team consisting of Michael Ross, Andrew Mclay, Brendan Spencer and Ewan Miller also dominated their race.

Matthew Spencer replaced Mclay in a close-fought freestyle relay in which the boys were also victorious.

The 15-year-old and under medley team of Daniel Wass, Sam Kenwright, Jordan Barlow and Vladimir Shulyak narrowly won their event.

And there were individual wins for McNicholas, Pye, Barlow, Mclay and Andy Bushell, who had returned from Loughborough University – where he trains with their performance squad –- to represent his home team.

The event finale was the boys’ open 50m freestyle relay which proved to be the most exciting race of the whole event.

Tim Almond, Jonathan Gatley, Barlow, Bushell, Mike Tujeshyn and Edward Shattock had to fight for every metre against Preston, who were the nearest to Warriors in the points table.

Shattock managed to hold on to the slight lead they had gained to win the event on the touch.

Warriors are now awaiting the draw for the next round on November 8.

Points: Warriors 311, Preston 292, Southport 231, Pioneer 79 222, Wrexham 193, Trafford Metro 190, City of Chester 178, Newcastle Staffs 175.

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