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2013-08-14 17:29:51

Dover had home pool advantage when they competed in the latest development gala hosted by Hythe town swimming club. The Dover team included many debutante swimmers, including many from the club’s pre development squad who have only recently started training with the club in the morning sessions.

The gala opened well with first place for the Dover team in the breaststroke squadron relay. There were fine swims from Erin van Pettigem, Evie Herrington, Ashleigh Menniss, Maria Evans, Sadie Milton,Sophie Card, Jack Rivers,Ali Corbo, Tom Fisher,Joe Medhurst, Kieron Menniss and Ben Fidock as the Dover team took the lead from early on in the race and extended it over all legs to finish a comfortable first.

Relay races were to prove hugely successful on the night with first place in eight relays. The 15/u medley team of Sadie Milton, Luis Corbo, Poppy Carr and Max Pettifer dominated as did the 18/u freestyle team of Ben Fidock, India Ribbans, Sophie Card and Max Pettifer. The 9 and under medley team showed the clubs future talent when Missy Carr, Maria Evans, Jack Rivers and Daniel Grunsell stormed to victory. The 11/u medley team of Chloe Donaldson, Tom Fisher, Sian Leech and Finlay Evans were involved in a tough battle but managed to grab first place. There was further success when the 12/u medley team of Hannah Lyell, Maria Evans, Alfie Herrington and Joe Medhurst destroyed all comers. The 10/u medley team replicated this result with domination by Joanna Bradford Thompson, Evie Herington, Ali Corbo and Chris Sharp. The most impressive result was delivered in the squadron freestyle relay when the Dover team of Maria Evans, Jordan Roger Mills, Sian Leech, Helen Smith, Sadie Milton, Sophie Card, Daniel Grunsell, Chris Sharp, Tom Fisher, Alfie Herrington, Josh Scott and Max Pettifer led from start to finish, extending the lead over every leg until they finished almost a full length ahead of the 2nd placed team.

Individual performances were impressive on the night too with first places from Poppy Carr who as a 12 year old was swimming in the 18 and under age group for the 50 back but she cruised to victory. Tom Fisher romped to victory in the 11/u breast and other winners were, Sam Fidock (12/u fly), Joanna Taylor Bradford (10/u back), Mathew May (11/u back), Tobi Sijuade (12/u free), Jordan Roger Mills (10/u fly), Ben Fidock (18/u free), Daniel Grunsell (9/u back), India Ribbans (18/u breast), Chloe Donaldson (11/u free), Josh Mcdade (11/u free),and Maria Evans 9/u fly.

The most staggering feat of the night was that this young Dover team recorded the highest ever number of speeding tickets at these gala’s. The speeding tickets are badges of honour that are awarded when swimmers better the time restrictions that are applied to this series of galas to ensure that only development level swimmers can participate . When a pseeding ticket is awarded the team receive no points for the swim and it can make winning the gala very difficult.On this amazing night there were 17 speeding tickets awarded to the Dover team. Sian Leech kicked the night off with a speeding ticket in the 11/u breaststoke ans hse was joined in this honour by Sadie Milton and Kieron Menniss (both in the 15/u breaststroke), Jordan Roger Mill and Chris Sharp (both 10/u 100 IM), Maria Evans (11/u back.12/u 100 IM),Hannah Lyell (12/u free),Max Pettifier (15/u Back),Finlay Evans (11/u fly), Helen Smith, Alfie Herrington (12/u breast), Poppy Carr (15/u fly0, Sadie Milton (18/u 100 IM), Chris Sharp (10/u breast) and Sian Leech then grabbed another in the 12/u back.

When the final points totals were announced this young squad had performed well to snatch 4th place overall, only missing first place by just 4 first places, “this is an indication of the standard that the team are at when they can surrender 102 points and yet still finish so close to first place”.There were individual awards to Gabriel Lyell (best boy), Hannah Lyell (best girl) and Josh Scott (best overall) .

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