Two local clubs are toasting terrific Junior Fenland League triumphs.
Huntingdon Piranhas and First Strokes Godmanchester both enjoyed trophy glory last weekend.
Piranhas were victorious in the ‘B’ Final at the Regional Pool in Peterborough as they lifted the silverware for the first time since 2009.
Head coach John Richards, who saw his swimmers blow away competition from host club City of Peterborough, along with March Marlins, Deepings and City of Ely, said: “We went into the final as the team ranked fifth, but we came out of it as the winners.
“It was an amazing evening for the team and I’m so proud of the swimmers whose hard work and determination has paid off with such a convincing success.”
Piranhas’ 19 swimmers achieved 31 personal bests between them in a 44-race programme. The team, which features four sets of siblings, is made up of Millie Steel (13), Jamie Coggins (13), Phoenix Wallace (13), Beatrice Pauley (12), Tyler Thacker (12), Michael Drinkwater (11), Alice Lawrence (11), Oliver Rana-Beadle (11), Hannah Jordon (11), Savvi Baxendale (11), Joshua Trinidad (11), Will Coggins (11), Dominic Pauley (10), Olivia Mitchell (10), Amelia Dunn (10), Emily Matthew (10), River Wallace (9), Ciara Walshe (9), Isaac Lawrence (9).
And there was more success over at Newmarket where First Strokes retained their ‘C’ final crown.
They took victory in six of the final 13 races to sweep to the top of the standings and see off closest challengers Bottisham by 25 points.
There were individual wins in all five age groups courtesy of nine year-olds Annie High, Charles Todd and Katy Lloyd; 10 year-olds Jodie Elliott and Joe Ryan, 11 year-olds Jessica Spavins, Max Web and Josh Beecroft; 12 year-old Chloe Butler and 13 year-olds Yasmine Clitheroe, Edward Bird and Ben Hall.
Team captain Hall and Ellliott won two races apiece while there were also valuable performances from the rest of a First Strokes squad which featured Euan Clark, Ginny Haden, Rory Webb, Lily High, Max Bourne, Aidan Clark, Jacob Cowin, Matilda Froggatt, David Keene, Will Edwards, Elke Povey and Gracie Freeman-Lewis.
The club are hoping to go one better in 2017 by getting through to the ‘B’ final which they won in 2014.
Junior Fenland League results B Final: 1 Huntingdon Piranhas 147pts, 2 City of Peterborough B 133, 3 March 127, 4 Deepings 121, 5 City of Ely 99. C Final: 1 First Strokes Godmanchester 158pts, 2 Bottisham 133, 3 West Norfolk 127, 4 Mildenhall 109, 5 St Neots Swans 104.
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