Swimming: Epic battles make for entertaining Kendal club meet (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Swimming: Epic battles make for entertaining Kendal club meet

9:30am Thursday 12th January 2012 in Sport By Patrick O'Kane, Senior News/Sport Reporter

SHOULDER to shoulder battles made for an entertaining meet as Kendal Swimming Club staged several non-championship events at Lakes Leisure, Kendal.

The boys 50m backstroke saw James Wroe and Joseph Stafford dominate the field as they matched each other length for length until the final few metres.

But Wroe was to take the gold medal by touching out Stafford in 34.42, with the latter a very close second in 34.75.

Gregor Rothwell swam a competent race to finish with the bronze Medal in 40.89.

The girls 200m freestyle was a more tactical contest and Jane Day had her work cut out to hold off the challenge of Amy Reay.

Day had enough left in the tank though for the final length and snatched gold in 2.48.83, with Reay second in 2.49.75.

Ruby Vernon (2.58.22) fought hard to keep in touch and came home for a creditable bronze.

And the boys 200m freestyle proved the showpiece for the crowds as a grandstand finish meant only the judges could divide the top two.

The race came down to Harry Denney and Liam Bagge showing absolutely superb swimming with immaculate turns and transitions, with neither able to break the other Storming into the finish the race was given to Denney (2.38.61) with Bagge (2.38.75) placed as runner up and Daniel Armstrong was placed third in 2.44.78.

In the girls open 50m backstroke, Vernon stormed to victory in a lung-busting finish to edge out Brodie Swallow and Taylor Aplin for the gold medal.

A ladies 25m freestyle race was won by Justine Ince with Lesley Capstick second and Ruth Webster third.

Awards were presented to Harry Denney and Olivia Williams who gained ‘Most Points in Ladies and Gents Championships’ in 2011 and Megan Jones and Ruben Swallow the U10 champions for 2011.