The third round of the National Arena Swimming League saw Clevedon fighting a relegation battle in order to stay in the Western area First Division after only one season. Results in the previous two rounds had gone against the Bristol Hotspring Ltd. sponsored club and they needed to avoid the last two places in the 'C' Final.

Fears of relegation were soon put to rest as Steff Reynolds and Steve Bowen won their first two 100m Individual Medley Races to open up an early lead. This lead was maintained throughout the evenening and Clevedon won the Gala by a 4 point margin from Dinnaton. Once mighty Stroud and Newton Abbot looking as though they will be swimming in a lower division next season. Final Points were:

Clevedon                    187

Dinnaton                    183

Glamorgan Valleys      147

Newton Abbot            144

Stroud                         83

Individual races were won by Steff Reynolds, Steve Bowen, Ellie Chappell, Suzannah King, Tom Jones (2), Jenni Gilbert, India Thomas, Erika Mason, Guy Prideaux, Rebecca Parsons, Amber Summerell (2) and Lizzie Warnes. 

Ellie Cappell (2), Suzannah King, Lizzie Warnes, Megan Finnie, Rebeca Parsons (2), India Thomas (2), Sophie Hicks, Steph Reynolds (2), Dannielle Applefors, Amber Summerell (2), Jenni Gilbert, Hayley Burston, Laura Hearn, Erika Mason, Kelsy Khardine, Ben Horner, Callum Greenwood, Simeon Howlett, Guy Prideaux and te women's 300m Freestyle relay team were victorious in relay races.

Jenni Gilbert, Samuel Hodge, Ben Horner (2), Benjamin Howlett, Suzannah King, Erika Mason, Guy Prideaux (2), Sam Thornton and Lizzie Warnes bettered their PB's on the night.

What started out as a tense night, turned into a triumph as the squad bade farewell to some of the more senior swimmers who will be leaving for university this year. Sam Thornton, Jenni Gilbert and Hayley Burston will take a lot of replacing, but there is plenty of talent coming through for the squad and they face next season with confidence.  

Graham Feboul

Press Officer