Report and photo by Akela
This was the very last Swimming Gala under the banner of Bristol South East District. Our district’s are changing, we join with Bristol South West District and are renamed Bristol South. The Gala was held as usual inside the Keynsham Leisure Centre, and our team was asked to meet outside at 6.00pm. As Akela arrived at 5.55pm they were all there waiting for him, bless them.
Our team consisted of Tom, Laurence-Elliott, Megan (1), Jess (1), Deanna, Sophie, Zeze, Oliver, and Breiz.
Each race category had two heats with the first three across the line to go through to the finals. As Akela was MC he handed the responsibility of looking after the team to Claire, thanks Claire, as Hathi was unable to attend due to a family commitment.
10yr old Freestyle
Tom was our representative and secured a comfortable 3rd to progress through to the finals
10yr old Breaststroke
Laurence-Elliott stormed through and left the rest of the field floundering in his wake, a magnificent 1st place.
9yr old Freestyle
Megan swam and didn’t she swim well another 1st.
9yr old Breaststroke
Jess (1) swam for us and secured a 3rd place
Another swimmer in the finals it was looking very healthy
Deanna was our representative, and swam really well, but lost out by about a fingernail length and was beaten into 4th. So no further part for her, apart from the free-swimming time at the end of the gala.
3 Cub Relay
Laurence-Elliott swam first and set up a commanding lead after the first length, Sophie took over and consolidated the lead leaving Tom just to swim length three to secure yet another final place.
8yr old 2 widths Freestyle
Time for Zeze to do her stuff, another 1st place and another final place.
A fun race to enable all of the Cubs to take part in the Gala, including the non-swimmers. Oliver was our representative and carried his egg (ping-pong ball) easily to victory.
Breiz had won the Diving competition last year and was out to repeat her performance, but first a brave leader was to demonstrate a racing dive. Andy from 256th was the guinea pig, sorry volunteer. He performed a beautiful racing dive but this was unfortunately missed by many of the supporters and the demand went up for him to repeat the performance. Mainly from the mums!!
Each of the Cubs first had a practice dive, followed then by two further dives which would be scored by the judges, in this case two of the Leisure Centre Life Guards, thanks guys.
All of the Cubs dived really well, but Breiz was unable to match last year’s effort but still attained a credible 2nd place.
All of the cubs swam really well, in many races only just loosing out to stronger swimmers. Laurence-Elliott managed a well deserved 2nd place in his Breaststroke race, but the highlight for us was the complete destruction of the opposition in the relay race with the team repeating their efforts of the heats and finishing 1st.
No silver for us, this year, but a good time was had by all those who took part.
Thanks must go to Simon, for organising the event, his last before he hands the reins of ADC Cubs over to Jane, to the supporters who made a lot of noise. Thanks also to the staff of the Leisure Centre, and finally to the Cubs who entertained us all with their efforts.