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Swimming: COPS are pipped to the title
The junior members of City of Peterborough Swimming Club (COPS) failed to retain their Fenland League title despite an heroic performance in the final round of the League.
The junior members of City of Peterborough Swimming Club (COPS) failed to retain their Fenland League title despite an heroic performance in the final round of the League.The juniors did exactly what was asked of them as they won the last round of the League held at the Deepings pool.
Unfortunately, having taken second place in two of the previous rounds, they had to win on the night and then needed other results to go their way. In the end they reluctantly handed their league title to local rivals City of Cambridge.
It was a tremendous night of swimming with the lead changing hands several times over the course of the evening.
At the halfway point COPS were trailing Cambridge by 10 points. However, with some great team spirit and excellent individual swimming, COPS secured the win by winning four of the last five races.
Out of the 43 events held, COPS secured 18 first places, six second places and six thirds to take their total points on the night beyond the reach of their rivals.
The final result was: COPS 152 points, City of Cambridge 143 points, Boston A 134 points, Deepings 116 points and West Norfolk A 75 points.
Leading the way for COPS was 12 year-old Emma Robinson who epitomised the whole team's determination to win this event.
Swimming in four events, Robinson started by winning the 50m freestyle and then came second in the 50m backstroke.
Having just finished the backstroke, Robinson immediately lined up for the 13 years 50m butterfly, one of the most exhausting events. Trailing for most of the two lengths, Robinson put on an amazing show of willpower in the final part of the race and she won the event by 0.07 seconds. All four of Robinson's times were personal bests with a massive eight-second pb in her final event, the 100m individual medley.
Another swimmer who showed his mettle for the team was eleven-year-old Dan Brown.
Brown was also selected for four events – three of them at an age group two years above his own. He won the 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly with personal bests of over two seconds before unfortunately being disqualified in the freestyle event. However, Brown showed his maturity by taking the 50m breaststroke event with another personal best of over two seconds.
Ten year-old Daniel Leigh also swam four events for the team and set personal bests in the 11 years 50m freestyle, and the 50m breaststroke before winning the 50m freestyle in another personal best time.
Nine-year-old Rachel Wellings was making her debut for the COPS team in the final round and she didn't let the occasion get to her. Wellings took first place in the 50m breaststroke and the 50m backstroke with a combined personal best time of over eight seconds.
Jessica Standish-Leigh (12) also took two first places in the 13 years 50m backstroke and the 50m breaststroke – both in personal best times. Standish-Leigh completed the evening for COPS by taking the final leg of the freestyle time relay. Entering the water neck and neck with the Cambridge swimmer she maintained her composure at the finish to win by one tenth of a second and round off a perfect evening for the COPS team.
Other COPS swimmers who won their events were: Joshua Aylett (12) – 50m breaststroke; Josh Graves (12) – 50m butterfly; James Newton (11) – 13 years 100m individual medley; Lewis Roe (9) – 50m breaststroke; Jamie Scholes (9) – 10 years 50m backstroke; Olivia Standish-Leigh (11) – 13 years 50m freestyle and Hal Whyatt (10) – 12 years 100 individual medley.
Also swimming for COPS in the final were: Lydia Brant (9), Katie Brown (10), Jacob Butcher (10), Joshua Cassidy (11), Ellie Cooper (10), Ethan Feest (10), Katie Green (12), Hannah Newton (9), Hannah Sewell (10), Georgia Speechley (11), Daria Stankowska (12) and Dario Tanzillo (11).
COPS head coach Ben Negus said: “I was overwhelmed by the team spirit shown. The swimmers knew what they had to do and they did it – for themselves, for each other and for the club. The poolside atmosphere was fantastic and the parents in the balcony were our ‘twelfth man’.
“The progress that we have made in the past two years as a club has been terrific. Compared to other swim programmes, we are a small set-up, but I am confident that Peterborough will continue to grow and develop as a swimming force in the east region. Our ultimate aim is to develop our young swimmers of today into the champions of the future.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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