A toughly fought competition saw the Elmbridge Phoenix swimmers claim second place in the Rother League. The gala, which was held at Woking Swimming Club’s home pool, was against teams from Sutton & Cheam, Worthing, Bognor Regis and Woking, with Winchester dropping out at the last moment.

Of the 51 events, Elmbridge had 17 first places and 22 second places.

Girls Club Captain Vicki Beaney swam like a true Champion, winning all her races: the 50m Butterfly, 50m Breast and 4 x 1 Individual Medley. Then, joined by Natalie Prince, Caroline Rutherford, and Radhika Gajraj, they won both the Open Age Medley Relay and the Freestyle Relay.

Rachael Solway won the under 12 25m Back and came second in the 25m Butterfly.

Louise Dickinson, swimming in the under 16 years age group, won the 50m Butterfly and came a very close 2nd in the 50m Back, while Nicola Pooley won the 50m Freestyle in the same age group.

World Class ‘Start’ swimmer, Adam Field, won his 3 individual swims: the 50m Back, 50m Free, and the 50m Butterfly. Later, joined by Callum Moore on Back, Richard Moody, Breast, Adam on Butterfly and Martyn Ullah on Free, they won the Medley Relay. They were also clear winners on the Freestyle relay, but were DQ for a faulty take over!

Boys Club Captain, Kristian Willcox, won two of his events, the Open 50m Back and the 4 x 1 IM, and came second in the 50m Butterfly.

In the under 14 age group, Jessica Gill won the 50 Free and Maddie Gunn the 50 Butterfly.

16 years old Natalie Prince, who is on the World Class Youth Potential programme and who is shortly leaving England to train for a week at a Long Distance Training camp in Cyprus, won the Open 50m Free by a clear 12m.