The towns of Belper, Uttoxeter (Dove Valley), Ashbourne and Leek came together for the second round of the Four Towns gala last night. It is a yearly event where all the towns host one event and battle it out to be the best swimming club in the area. Two years ago Belper won, but then lost the trophy last year as they were simply too fast for the competition and were given too many speeding tickets, a rule to give everyone a chance for success.
This year it was going to be different and after the first round Marlin’s were already in a 37 point lead having scored 133 points, to Leeks 96, Dove Valleys 94 and Ashbourne’s 94. In their slick new kit the Marlin team went about their business as usual, as if there had been no break between the first and second rounds at all. Looking extremely professional they shot off the blocks, turned with precision and came home in first place in the majority of events. Fortunately the coaches had done a brilliant job of selection and speeding tickets were few and far between.
By the evening close Belper had extended their lead even further! Round two points were as follows: Ashbourne 88, Dove Valley 81, Leek 100 and Belper an amazing 137 points! That means the club is already 74 points above their nearest contender!! All the children were absolute stars from all the clubs that took part, but the residents of Belper should be proud of their team who shone for the precision of their swimming and excellent technique. Belper certainly have strength in depth and in bucket loads!!
Special mention must go to the younger swimmers from both the competitions, some of whom were competing for the first time as a club. Brilliant team and individual swims were given by Luke Waterfall, Monty Wright, Sabine MacLachlan, Daisy Dann, Ruby Haslam, Maisie Chamberlain, Bertie Jackson, Megan Oram, Philip Lamb, Lauren Tomlinson, Nick Skinner and Maddie Tatham. All of them pocket rockets, or should we say torpedos!
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