THE first swimming gala of the new season for Monnow Swimming Club was a friendly competition held at Monmouth School Sports Complex attracting teams from as far afield as Pembroke County, Llanelli, Penarth and Abertillery.
The Llanelli Club has twice as many members as the Monmouth Club, whilst the Pembroke team was representing the four clubs from the county of Pembroke so it was always going to be a tough challenge to start the season, particularly as the Monnow swimmers had only recommended training at the beginning of the week after a four week break through August.
It soon proved an exciting contest as the Pembroke county team moved into a nine point lead from Llanelli after 12 events, with Monnow a further five points behind in third place.
Both clubs, however, then chipped away at this lead and 12 events later, Llanelli had edged into a five point lead, with Monnow closing the margin to just one point behind the Pembroke team. Eight events later Monnow had moved four points clear of Pembroke, with 26 and 48 point margins from Abertillery and Penarth respectively but could not close the gap on Llanelli.
Monnow retained their second place until the final block of team relay events, where the Pembrokeshire strength in the younger age groups helped their squad to reclaim second place to the Llanelli team, although finishing only two points clear of Monnow who were in turn comfortably third, ahead of the Abertillery and Penarth team.
Five of Monnow's individual event wins were claimed by the club's recent UK National Age Group medallists, Mackenzie Howe and Laura-Jane Bruce. Mackenzie gained her wins in successive events, the 14 yr girls' 100m freestyle and open 100m butterfly events after earlier winning the 14yr 100m butterfly.
Laura-Jane gained hers in the 12 year freestyle and butterfly events and, along with Mackenzie, helped the 14 year girls and open girls to win their freestyle relay events.
Other individual event winners were Daniela Robbins (12 yr backstroke), Robert Green (14 yr butterfly), Caroline Bain and Richard Swayne, both in the open backstroke event.
Other members of winning relay teams were Fenella Farr, Madeleine Risk, Suzy Farr, Luke Rollings, Chris Bennett and Gareth Johns.
Valuable second place points were gained by Edward Kowal (10 yr freestyle), Garth Johns (12 yr butterfly), Robert Green (14 yr backstroke and freestyle) and Suzy Farr (open freestyle), plus even more of the relay teams which also included David Link, John Brewer, Charlie Risk, Chris Bennett, Luke Rollings, David Johns and Reece Howe.