Otters second in swimming Diddy League competition (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Otters second in swimming Diddy League competition

2:30pm Thursday 26th July 2012 in Sport By Scott Kirk, Reporter

FOR the second round of the Cumbria Diddy League Ulverston found themselves drawn at Workington where they were immediately locked into a battle with Carlisle for the honours.

The 11-year-old breaststroke relay teams got the Gala off to a solid start with the girls and boys battling into second place, but it was the selection of 10-year-old Anya Sharp, Holly Parkinson, Lois Morrell and Taylor Aplin at backstroke that brought the club their first win.

The same combination gave a repeat performance in the freestyle relay.

With Starr Huntington replacing Aplin they struck again when they just touched out Carlisle to take a fine win in the breaststroke.

The 11-year-old relay teams Imogen Duncalf (backstroke), Georgina Milburn (breaststroke), Nicola Capstick (butterfly) and Maya Plushko (freestyle) swept to another victory in the Medley Relay.

Joined by Ellie Simons they then burned off the opposition in the freestyle and backstroke relays to gain maximum points.

Not to be outdone the boys made a gallant effort with a mix of Ben Chinn, William Woods, Niall Cush and Reuben Atherton blending to clinch victories at medley, butterfly and freestyle.

The individual events brought the highlight of the night with Hugo Morrison putting up a tremendous swim in the 50m backstroke.

Neck and neck with the Carlisle swimmer they hit the finish together, both recording a similar time but with Morrison awarded the win.

Taylor Aplin exploded off the block in the 50m breaststroke and she drove to the finish with a fair degree of ease.

The Otters finished second with 119 points in the end, 40 behind Carlisle, with Barrow third on 87 points and Kendal’s 67 points earned them fourth.