Stourbridge Crystal Open Meet 2008

Preston Swimming Club emerged as the top club in the prestigious Stourbridge Crystal meet staged in Wolverhampton. Competition was tough, with 40 clubs from across the North West and the Midlands in attendance, but Preston produced a series of excellent performances.

Team manager Steve Heaps said: “I am absolutely delighted with all the swimmers who took part. Their professionalism on and off the poolside was exemplary. To win the top club award from 40 clubs with only 21 swimmers attending is just a magnificent achievement.”

In the nine-year-old age group, Kathryn Greenslade was in magnificent form to take three first positions in the 50m freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke, and also a fourth in the 100m individual medley. Not to be out done, Lee Reeder took a further three firsts in the boys’ 50m freestyle, backstroke and butterfly, and also recorded with a third spot in the breaststroke. While Ashley Rogers had second places in the backstroke, butterfly and 100m individual medley.

The 10 year age group saw Abbie Kitcher take four first places in the 50m feeestyle, butterfly, breaststroke and 100m individual medley. Further points came from Alisha Finch taking third in the 50m breaststroke and Eleanor Laurence sixth in the backstroke and fifth in the butterfly.

Katie Mawdesley continued the winning ways in the 11 year category with four wins in the 50m and 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley, together with a third in the 50m backstroke.

The 12-year-old swimmers had points coming from all directions. Charlotte Sinclair took second in 50m and 200m breaststroke, and 200m individual medley, with a third place in the 50m freestyle. Georgia Barton took second in 50m freestyle and butterfly, and third position in the 200m freestyle and individual medley.

In the boys’ event, Jack Smith grabbed victory in the 200m freestyle and breaststroke, and added seconds in 50m breaststroke and 200m individual medley.

Thirteen-year-old Joanne Cutler lead the way in the older age with four first places in the 100m and 200m freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200m individual medley.

The winning Preston team was completed by nine-year-olds Joseph Connelly and Ethan Fielding, 10-year-olds Ella Huskisson and Alex Joyce, 11-year-olds Laura Joyce, Ben Conlan and Reece Rogers, Sophie Laurence, 12, Philip Mason, 13, and Abbe Fielding, 14.

Myles Kitcher

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