SWIMMING: THE TWENTIETH annual house gala championships at the City of Chester Swimming Club have drawn to a close.
Every year since 1985, the club's Development squads and top end Learn to Swim children have been divided into teams to compete in a year-long series of galas aimed at giving the youngsters a fun taste of competitive swimming.
Bill Parry, who dreamed up the house galas while coaching the club's under-10s, is now club president, and his granddaughter has just started having lessons with the club.
The finale of this year's house galas was held at the club's headquarters at Chester City Baths on Sunday, November 6.
Although the Sharks were the winners on the day, the Beavers did enough to beat their closest rivals into second place and clinch the championship title with 552 points.
The club would like to pass on its thanks to all the children, parents, teachers and supporters who have helped make the house galas such a success over the past two decades.
The Deva League also drew to a close on Sunday, November 6 with 32 members of the City of Chester Swimming club travelling to North-wich for the final round.
The team got off to a great start when the boys under-11 relay squad, namely Richard Lewis-Williams, Ben Jones, James Feazell and Myles Reid, won the 4x25m medley.
James rounded off a fantastic personal performance by then taking first place in both the 50m fly and freestyle.
Ashlea Allen put in the day's best performance in the under-11 girls, finishing third in the individual 50m breast and fly.
In the under-13 section, the boys relay team of Leo McCormack, Jon Armstrong, Chris Williams and Mike Ford, and the girls squad of Emily Grader, Charlotte Gillies, Alice Little and Holly McCann, both came third in their respective medley races.
Alice also secured a very good first in the 50m fly, while Alice Howarth won the 50m back.
Another medley win came from the under-15 boys, James Welch, Jack Quinn, Elliott Needham and Liam Allen, James and Jack also coming first in the individual 50m fly and back respectively.
For the girls, Emma Spruce swam up an age group and finished an impressive second in the 50m free.
In the open events (16-plus), all the club's competitiors were competing up an age group but nonetheless put in some impressive displays.
Liam Allen did superbly to win the 100m fly and finish third in the 100m free, while Gemma Clethro won the girls 100m fly and was second in the 100m free.
With a number of other creditable performances on the night, the club finished third overall, testament to the hard work everyone puts in as they train up to eight times a week.
