ALTON Swimming Club returned to the plush facilities of The Quays, Southampton for the second round of the Speedo Championships.
Flushed with success after their run of recent victories, including an excellent result in Jersey for the top squad, Alton were nevertheless in no doubt that this would be a difficult gala. They were up against some of the toughest competition in the region and had trained hard. The opposition comprised the mighty Southampton squad, local hot-shots Haslemere, plus Chalfont Otters, Rushmoor Royals from Aldershot and Seagulls.
The Alton squad took the view nothing ventured nothing gained in the 50-race gala and Zoe Coles, currently in prime form, sprang from the block in the first race and powered to victory in the ladies' 4 x 1 individual medley, setting a personal best time and an example to everyone else.
A total of 10 Alton victories were then recorded over the night's racing. There were relay wins in the boys' 13 and under medley (Paul Wadlow, Sam Newland, Alex Lampton, Peter Massey) and 15/u freestyle and medley relays (Russell North, Ben Flannaghan, Tom Buckland, John McHarg) and the girls' 11/u medley relay (Emily Cooper, Anne Fletcher, Nichola Gordon-Jones, Caitlin Leverett).
Zoe Coles' individual win was followed by success for Peter Massey in the 50m backstroke and freestyle, Sam Newland in the breaststroke, and John McHarg in both the freestyle and breastroke for 15/u, setting a new club record in the freestyle.
It is a measure of the opposition's strength that despite winning a fifth of the races and coming second or third in a further 28 events, Alton were squeezed into second place by the powerful Southampton team.
Alton's swimmers set a string of personal bests, evidence of their determination. They included Russell North (club record in boys' 15/u backstroke), Kimberley Michalsky (ladies' open butterfly), Ben Eagland (boys' 11/u butterfly), Charlotte Fletcher (girls' 13/u backstroke), Peter Massey (boys' 13/u backstroke, club record), Catherine Cooper (girls' 15/u butterfly and freestyle), Alex Lampton (boys' 13/u butterfly) and Nichola Gordon-Jones (girls' 11/u freestyle).
For the club combining Alton, Petersfield and Bordon‚ to come a very close second to the might of a big city like Southampton is a great achievement and all concerned can be proud of themselves. The cheering by supporters on the night confirmed the high regard in which the young swimmers are held.