Hardwick - Wasps denied victory by just 4 points
On Saturday June 10th our under 12’s Battle Bus set out for the Hardwick 12/u gala at Bridgnorth. On board were 29 of our best young swimmers – some never having competed at a gala previously. Fuelled by crate loads of Jaffa Cakes and Snack a Jacks our young team were in a buoyant and confident mood as the ghetto blaster let rip and the bus shook to the sounds of Busted’s “Thunderbirds Are Go.”
Everyone on board commented about a new positive spirit within the team that was clear for all to see. The older experienced swimmers helped and looked after the younger swimmers and there was a real “all for one and one for all” enthusiasm.
Three hours later we were left contemplating how we had come so close to victory but had let it slip away at the last hurdle. Four points from 50 events was all that separated us from victory over the other three teams in the gala. The “What Ifs” sprang to mind. What if we hadn’t had a significant disqualification? What if we’d had some of our other swimmers available for team selection? However we can’t dwell on “What Ifs” and instead need to draw on the many positives.
For years the club has struggled to put out a competitive 9/u Girls or Boys team. This gala demonstrated that we have some very exciting swimmers and plenty of competition for places. Our boys 9/u team of Alfie Pardoe, Luke Edge, Hayden Ciesielski and Patrick Draper will potentially be together as a unit in this age category for at least another year – I say potentially because I know that there are a number of other 9/u boys snapping at their heels. I have no doubt that given a few more months our 9/u Boys team will be one that dominates wherever it swims. Our new Girls 9/u team of Hannah Greene, Lauren Bond, Alice Smith and Amelia Penn – three of whom had never swum in a gala before - rose to the occasion and will go from strength to strength.
Joe Evans the Boys captain and Laura Bull the Girls captain led from the front and inspired the rest of the team. I’d like to personally thank them.
So it’s a case of onwards and forwards – thanks to all of the team and everyone poolside – we will win…it’s just a matter of time.
Hardwick Gala - Results >>