Driffield Swimming Club got the swim season off to a great start by competing in the first leg of the East Coast League.
The club won the league last year so this season were coming out fighting. This ‘friendly’ league consists of four teams: Driffield, Kingfishers, Bridlington and Filey. This year’s first gala was held at Filey.
The first races were the Medley relays. Each team of four has to swim a length of backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly then finally freestyle. The races produced some really great examples of each of the strokes and also some first places.
Winning the first medley relay were the 11 and Under Girls team. Georgia Haynes, Hollie Edeson, Taylor Cartwright and Sarah Wade held off the competition in style. Next the 15 and Under Boys team had a great win. Aaron Rose, Max Gilbart, Aaron Moorfoot and Jack Martindale showed super technique and took first place.
Next to win were the 13 and Under Boys team: Adam Alcock backstroked to make the first touch, Junior Captain George Sheader increased the lead with his great breaststroke, Elliot Moorfoot and his strong butterfly gave the team an even bigger lead and then Jack Martindale rocketed home with his fabulous freestyle.
Then came the individual races.
First to victory was Sarah Wade in the 11 and Under Girls Freestyle.
12 year old Vice Captain Emma Palmer won her 15 and Under Girls Butterfly race.
Jack Martindale led from the start to win the 13 and Under Boys Backstroke.
Captain Will Atkinson swam with strength to win the Open Butterfly race.
Max Gilbart showcased his terrific breaststroke to win the 15 and Under Boys race.
Adam Alcock’s strong freestyle took first in the Boys 13 event.
Sam Clark won the boys Open Backstroke with his powerful stroke.
Hollie Edeson took first in the 11 and Under breaststroke demonstrating her great technique.
Martha Kelly speeded along to win the 15 and Under Freestyle.
Along the way were some personal bests for the swimmers: The team’s only Under 11 boy was 9 year old Harvey Roberts. He gained three personal bests for his Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle having swum in all four of the 11 and Under Boys Races. Well done Harvey!
More personal bests were swum by Captain Will Atkinson, Jack Martindale, Georgia Haynes, Max Gilbart, Emily Crabtree and Hollie Edeson.
The final set of races was the freestyle relays. These are always great to watch but with Driffield neck and neck with Bridlington on points at this stage, these races would decide who got the win for the league table.
The first relay was the Open Girls. They sped to victory with Tia Heaney, Vice Captain Emma Palmer, Captain Leonie Heaney and Martha Kelly all putting in top performances.
Sarah, Taylor, Georgia and Hollie made it a double to win the Girls 11 and Under free relay as did the 13 and Under boys with Elliot, George, Jack and Adam swimming to victory.
With the number of swimmers still being short in some areas, having to swim up at least one age group were: Adam Alcock, Taylor Cartwright, Junior Captain Alice Clark, Jessica Humble, Martha Kelly, Jack Martindale and Vice Captain Emma Palmer. At the end of the evening Driffield came in second place trailing Bridlington by just one point! Three more galas will take place throughout the season so stay tuned to see how Driffield perform.
Team Manager Josie Clark was pleased with her team, saying: “A great start to the new season. I look forward to seeing how the swimmers progress throughout the year.”