Arena League – ‘A’ Team match report
On Saturday 14th December our ‘A’ team travelled to Kendal for the third time in three months to compete in the last of three matches in the 2019 Arena League. Swimming in the Division 1 Grand Final for a place in the 2020 Premier Division the team fought really hard against tough competition from the five other teams competing teams from Crosby, Prescot, Hoylake, Satellite (Macclesfield) and Orca (Royton).
Our team, made up of swimmers from 10 years old and upwards swam in 50 races consisting of relays and individual events for 9-11 year olds, 13/under 15 and under and open events.
Our first win came in race 3 – the girls 9-11 year old freestyle relay with a personal best time for Caitlin Wolstenholme. The boys followed with a 5th place swim which saw two of our 10-year-old boys – Tom Jepson and Oscar Arkwright – get Personal best times.
Tom Jepson (age 10) was also to swim in a further three events gaining another personal best time for the 50 metre individual freestyle. He was cheered on proudly by his mum – Carole Jepson – who not only volunteers for the club as a coach to some of our younger swimmers – but who also swims competitively herself illustrating what an inclusive family swimming club Leyland is as she swam in the ladies 100 metre Breaststroke – cheered on by Tom this time – to secure 4th place.
Overall the team won 12 of the 50 races with the 13/under girls and boys relay teams yet again showing how strong they were in that age group with some really convincing wins. A special mention also goes to 14 year old Tom Arkwright whose speed in the freestyle relays and individual events was amazing to watch and who secured 1st place and a personal best time in the 100 metre freestyle and another personal best in the 50 metre freestyle relay against some really tough opposition.
With the top three teams in the event being promoted it was a real tussle between Leyland and Hoylake for third and fourth places and as the event went on and the scores were read out there was a real feeling that either team could secure third spot. bIn the end, despite their best efforts Hoylake just edged it by three points beating Leyland into fourth with the event being won overall by Crosby with Prescot in second place.
Head Coach, Gillian Rankin, reflected on a great season so far commenting that there had been some good swims and that she was really pleased to see all the swimmers enjoying the event ahead of the Christmas break before quickly getting back into full training in preparation for the Lancashire County Championships and North West Swimming League matches.