HASLEMERE Swimming Club are back in the big time after finishing second in Division 1 of the National Speedo League (South) behind City of Southampton last week-end.
In a thrilling clash at Reading, Haslemere reached the top flight for only the third time in their history.
Carrying on from good results in rounds one and two, a buoyant Haslemere squad competed against City of Southampton, Bracknell & Wokingham, Newbury, Basingstoke & District and Havant & Waterlooville in the promotion gala.
With every point vital, Haslemere were focussed on a positive performance. The large travelling support helped, making themselves heard above the packed gallery.
The level of competition was extremely high, with many events being won or lost on the touch. Haslemere recorded 10 outright wins on the night.
Oliver Hairs surged ahead over the first 25 metres of the boys' U/11 butterfly and held on to his lead to record 37.33secs and a maximum score.
Sarah Jackson gave an impressive display in the girls' U/15 butterfly, winning in 1-12.21.
Bryony Dunne (U/11), currently clocking great breaststroke times, left the rest in her wake to win in 39.22secs.
Tom White (U/15) recorded another personal best in the 100m breaststroke, winning in 1-16.19, and Owen Morgan (UK ranked No 2) took the 100m backstroke and freestyle in his customary faultless style.
The boys' U/11 squad of Adam Martin, Adam Baranowski, Ross Gurney-Read and Oliver Hairs led the way in the relays with a brace of wins in the freestyle and medley.
Other relay wins came from the girls' U/11 freestyle squad of Bryony Dunne, Eleanor MacDonald, Victoria Handley and Emma Bell and, at the other end of the scale, the men's open medley team of James Bird, Phil Traviss, Owen Morgan and David Bird.
With these wins as a base, the squad built on to the total points tally with nine second places and 12 thirds – and this was to prove crucial at the end of the evening.
Haslemere's team performance was superb and they missed first place by a mere two points.
They finished equal second in the league and with only two teams to be promoted, had to wait while the count-back was calculated. Finally, but not until Monday morning, it was confirmed that Haslemere would be swimming in the Premier League next season.
A jubilant coach Adam Baker was thrilled with the result " It's a great achievement for every member of the club, we have all worked hard to get there. Now the trick is for us to stay in the premier league. It is a fitting end to the year and the hard work starts once again after Christmas."