News
Senior Inter House Swimming Gala
6th July 2007Hot favourites Ashley were dealt a blow the evening before the competition when Sports Captain Lottie Scannell fell from her pony and dislocated her shoulder. So into the fray,but proceedings were delayed somewhat as the skies opened and everyone ran for the little cover available at the open air pool at Street.
Eventually the swimming started with the 25m events and Shaftesbury moved into an early lead with two super wins in the backstroke; they followed this with a fabulous victory from Freyia Crawford in the first 25m breaststroke. Three wins out of three for Shaftesbury, and Ashley were heading for defeat. The older age group 25m breaststroke followed and Slessor produced National swimmer James Jackson to make Ashley's troubles even greater, but out of nowhere Carco Ng from Ashley stole the race. Then Lottie arrived from casualty and team spirits lifted as Ashley also won the first 25m front crawl with Adam Coppard. Slessor upped their challenge and James Jackson made no further mistakes and things were looking reasonably tight as we moved into the 50m races. Now Ashley unleashed their big guns with national swimmer James Robertson and National Champion Emily Wilson completely unopposed in the backstroke, butterfly and individual medley.
By the time we had reached the relays Ashley had eased ahead, however Shaftesbury had not given up and with just the medley relay remaining they had drawn level with Ashley, and Slessor were only 3 points behind. Into the first length and Slessor took the lead, then James Robertson was unable to draw close to James Jackson in the breaststroke and Slessor increased their lead to 5 metres. Everyone in Ashley was holding their breath as Emily took off on the butterfly leg, halfway down the lane she had drawn level and her team was now screaming as she cruised by and handed over with a 4 metre lead. Now, this was where Ashley had outmanoeuvred all the other houses, Ella Angus was swimming the final front crawl leg and this was her only race of the day. She was completely fresh and try as they did all the others were by now too tired to catch her. Congratulations Ashley!
The gala ends with victory for ASHLEY.
Head of House Mrs S. Scannell sits proudly amongst her
victorious squad.
