National “Arena” Swimming League – 10th October 2009
Cinderford’s first competition this season was the National Arena Swimming League gala at Leighton Buzzard. Even after a 3 hour bus journey the swimmers put in a great performance, there were plenty of personal best times against very stiff opposition with the team finishing with a respectable 173 points in 4th position.
Cinderford swimmers achieved 7 first places: top spots were clinched by Nia Westlake in the 200m IM, winning by over 4 seconds in a time of 2min 36.41; Rebecca Toomer and Billy Harris both stormed ahead in the 100m backstroke races; Ashleigh Embling took the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1min 25.99 more than 4 seconds ahead of her nearest opposition; Morgan Peck just touched first in a very close 50m breaststroke in a time of 48.08 sec; Dean Embling won the 100m breaststroke by four seconds in 1min 15.34 and Kim Briscoe fought hard to take first place in the 100m freestyle.
For the younger members, Sam Jenkins (10) took over 4 seconds off his freestyle time in his first gala with an competent swim, Josh Peck took 4 seconds off his 100m breaststroke time, Ashleigh Embling took 3 seconds off her 100m butterfly and Jess Bayliss took 2 seconds off her 50m breaststroke time.
Other personal best times on the night came from Morgan Peck (backstroke and butterfly), Natasha Bayliss (backstroke and freestyle), Nathan Peck, Mitch Savage and Paige Bowles (backstroke), Cassie Smith, Jason Games and George Fear (freestyle), Kim Briscoe, Ashleigh Embling, Todd Montague, Jack Hinchey and Dean Embling (butterfly),