LEEK Amateur Swimming Club turned in an "incredible performance" to claim fourth spot in the opening top flight National Arena League gala of the season at Pingles Pool in Nuneaton.
Dubbed the "toughest league in the swimming calendar" swimmers from the Moorlands outfit produced a series of personal best (PB) performances while 15-year-old Joe Hulme smashed the West Midlands Regional Short Course record in the 200m individual medley (IM).
Delighted Leek ASC head coach Geoff Summerfield said: "My team have not let me, the club, or themselves down. At this level of competition, to come fourth overall is an incredible performance - especially when you consider the size of the city teams that we have performed against.
"Joe Hulme is just going from strength to strength and proved his commitment by picking up PBs in all events and smashing the West Midlands Regional Record time in the 200IM, I have every confidence that Joe is going to go far in the sport and he is a great asset to Leek Swimming Club.
Jess Dow performed well having recently faced a health scare that meant she was missing from training for a while but again she was rewarded with a PB and a strong performance. I was so proud to hear the results and the many individual and team performances. It shows that our training is paying off and looks well set for the season ahead."
In among the plethora of PBs a number of Moorlands swimmers celebrated taking top spot in their races. Molly Findler, aged 11, touched first in the 50m breaststroke while the impressive Abbie Wood topped the podium in both the 13yrs/under 100m breaststroke and the open women's 100m breaststroke.
Leek ASC also celebrated a series of second-place finishes with Danielle Amson (100m backstroke), Jess Dow (100m backstroke), Molly Findler (50m freestyle), Joe Hulme (200 IM, 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle), Rees Johnson (100m butterfly, 100m freestyle), Emily Osborne (100m butterfly) and Abbie Wood (100m freestyle) all claiming runner-up positions.
Immediately after the National Arena League gala Leek senior swimmers Bryony Woolley and Joe Hulme competed in the Lincoln Vulcans Open meet at Sheffield. Woolley, aged 15, was in 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly and 200m freestyle action and claimed a new PB in the 200m freestyle.
Hulme, aged 15, continued his fine form and achieved PBs in all his targeted events - picking up National Qualifying Times in the 200m backstroke, 200m butterfly, 100m butterfly). He picked up gold medals in the 100m butterfly and 200m backstroke and silver in the 200m butterfly.
For a free trial with Leek ASC contact Geoff Summerfield on 01782 399415.
