The BWFSC meet acts as a great opening meet to the New Year, providing swimmers the chance to race in a long course pool in preparation for the county championship and long course orientated part of the season. Many swimmers were looking to improve and/or gain some final county qualification times, the swimmers also had the opportunity to swim in the Olympic Pool used in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
The were a number competing clubs, many whom we do not often race against locally including Ashford Town, Beacon, Black Lion, City of Ely, Enfield, Hailsham, Hillingdon, Hitchin, Leyton, LB Hounslow, RTW Monson, Runnymede, Sevenoaks, Green Royals, Borough of Waltham Forest and Mid Sussex Marlins.
We had 51 swimmers attend up 30 swimmers form last years entry. The day was long and a good test for those that attended the Nutrition talk in December to put the strategies learned into practice, with the food and fluid intake for the day assisting recovery and preparation for multi racing.
At the close of the day we had added two additional county qualifiers along with more PB times and County qualification times. We also had several Club Record times broken. Half way through the day the GATOR top club Trophy was proudly positioned on the presentation table. This was to be awarded to the top Visiting Club, and Marlins were positioning themselves as Top Club overall – we needed to keep the momentum going during the afternoon.
The last event to close the meet would be Boys and Girls 100m Fly. Coach Nic Piper quoted “I remember whipping some swimmers for this event on their return from just completing the 50m Backstroke asking them to go and compete”.
Events drew to a close after a long day and recognition was indeed awarded to Charlotte Johnson and Teilo Williams for being Top Girl and Boy in their respective Age Groups. The GATOR Trophy was calling its new owners Mid Sussex Marlins. As a club we missed this trophy last year by 3 medals but this year this was achieved with the highest medal total the Gala had ever witnessed with 105 Gold, Silver and Bronze medals awarded to our swimmers.
Next up – Brighton Tom Handley meet January 12th and 13th at the Prince Regent in Brighton.
The South do it again!
Fancy coaching at Mid Sussex Marlins?