Swimming: Local athletes in top form

Jun 4 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

SWIMMERS from Swim West Lothian were in top form at a recent gala in Larkhall dominating in almost every category in which they competed.

The athletes were in action at the FIRSTs second gala at Larkhall Leisure Centre in Lanarkshire at what is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s most prestigious competitions.

The event was made up of the top seven competitive swimming clubs in the county with the intention of retaining the best club shield they secured last year when they amassed more points than all of the other competing clubs put together.

The age group event consisted of each swimmer competing in a 100m swim in each stroke and gaining valuable team points dependant on their position in their respective age group.

The top six in each age group being given the opportunity to swim a 200m individual medley, with the winners picking up cash prizes.

Although the team performed fantastically with several new personal bests being chalked up, it was those who consistently finished in the top six who scored the highest points and given their chance to shine.

In the girls 12-13 age group, West Lothian filled more than half of the top slots.

Rachel Donald, Sophie Ross, Hayley Marshall and Ashley McAdam all made it to the final of their events.

Rachel repeated recent form to take third place.

In the boys race at the same age group Dean Strachan and James Black took to the blocks for the final.

James fought well to take fourth against much bigger foes while Dean was unlucky to be disqualified robbing himself of the chance of making it into the top slots.

Next up were the 14-15 girls with Ishbel Rodger shaking off recent injury to take first and Fiona Donald coming back in a brilliant freestyle leg to snatch third.

Two of the boy's places were again filled with West Lothian athletes with Sean Campsie and Ross Shearer in a tight final Sean took third and Ross posting another PB to finish just outside the money.

West Lothian dominated the older girl's final filling four of the top six places. Shelley Inglis, Kirsten Dippie, Holly Ross and Allie McGowan gave us the most exciting race of the day when Holly touched out Allie by less than a tenth of a second with Kirsten finishing third less than half a second behind.

The excitement continued in the boy's race when Jamie Coulter showed real class when he stormed back from fourth at the last turn to take first place only to be disqualified for a technical infringement.

Andew Aitchison kept the West Lothian colours flying when he took the third place slot.

With West Lothian looking good to retain the title the only thing remaining were a skins knock out competition and the relays.

The skins athletes compete in 50m freestyle races over and over again with the slowest being dropped each time, this eventually leaves the fastest and the fittest in a two swimmer showdown with a winner takes all finale.

The girls were first up and were eventually left with three from West Lothian; Kirsten, Holly and Allie.

One more round saw Kirsten go out leaving Holly and Allie to fight it out, with superb performances from the now exhausted girls only the electronic timing could tell them apart — with the decision eventually given to Holly Ross after a personal best time of 28:45 seconds.

With adrenalin around the poolside running high it was the boys turn and after the initial gruelling rounds the event was left with two West Lothian boys — a familiar sight as the sprint specialist lined up against the talented all-rounder.

A nail biting finale to the individual swimming that day gave it to Jamie as he pipped Andrew by four tenths of a second with an aw inspiring 24:64 seconds for the 50m.

The day was rounded off with a mixed squad relay, which given the strength of West Lothian's performance was not surprisingly taken with some ease.

The second FIRST gala saw Swim West Lothian repeat their success of last year amassing more points than the other clubs put together.

But somewhat disappointingly they went home empty handed as a new rule meant a composite club could not lift the shield.