Herts Peanuts League

Peanuts League Round Three 12^th July 2008.

Saturday the 12^th July was the date of the third and final round of the Hertfordshire Peanuts League for 2008. The venue chosen for deciding the overall winner from the top six teams in the league was Potters Bar. The competing teams were Hatfield, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Hoddesdon and Bishop Stortford.

In keeping with the intense rivalry shown throughout the competition all the clubs fielded their strongest teams in attempt to become winner of the Peanuts league for 2008. The first ten events, which comprised individual 25 and 50metre disciplines for U11 to U13 swimmer’s resulted in Hoddesdon being placed in sixth place behind Bishop Stortford with Hatfield having a clear lead in first place. Personal best times in this section of the gala were achieved by Georgina Fisher in the 25m freestyle and Harry Burtenshaw in the 50m freestyle.

The second ten gala events which featured mainly freestyle and medley relays resulted in no change in the score between Hoddesdon and Bishop Stortford and although Hoddesdon swimmers performed very well they could not make any impact on the leading teams.

By the end of the 3^rd quarter Hoddesdon had gained a six point lead over Bishop Stortford to be placed fifth as result of some inspired swims in the individual disciplines in all the age groups. Personal best times were achieved by Amy Riddick in the 50m butterfly and Charlie Stevens in the 25m backstroke.

The final quarter which featured mainly relays saw the Hoddesdon team swim exceptionally well to strengthen their hold on their lead and finish in a comfortable 5^th place in the gala.

Congratulations to all our swimmers, each and every one of you gave your absolute best performance tonight and also throughout the series. The head Coach Janet and the coaching staff were delighted with your achievements. It should be realized that we are a comparatively small club and our swimmers should be proud of the fact that they can hold their own with swimmers from the bigger clubs.

On a night of outstanding achievements, the swimmer of the gala went to two members of the same family. Well done to Imogen Bell and Cameron Bell as girl and boy swimmer of the gala.

Results of the 3rd gala: 1^st place Hatfield 75 points, 2^nd place Stevenage 111 points, 3^rd place Hemel Hempstead 136 points, 4^th place Hertford 158 points, 5^th place Hoddesdon 186 points, Bishops Stortford 198 points.

Overall results of the 2008 Peanuts League: 1^st place Hatfield (on countback) 2^nd place Stevenage, 3^rd place Hemel Hempstead, 4^th place Hoddesdon, 5^th place Hertford, 6^th place Bishop Stortford.

Peanuts League Round 2 14th June 2008

Another busy weekend for Hoddesdon swimming club The Eels and Fish teams were competing in the second round of the peanuts league on Saturday 14th June 2008. The Eels travelled to Potters Bar whilst the Fish were in action at Hemel Hempstead. Team Manager Mark Charles reported that the Fish team finished in sixth position on the night. Despite finishing last every member of the team gave their best, but were disadvantaged by not having a team at full strength.

Mike Kent,the Eels coach,was hoping for a first or second place finish in this round of the series to keep the team in the top six for the final round in July and and he was not dissapointed by the team who without exception swam brilliantly. After 10 events Hoddesdon were in third place behind Hertford and Hemel Hempstead but by the halfway mark Hoddesdon had overtaken Hertford to move into second place as a result of some excellent relay team results. At the end of the third quarter the team had strengthened their hold on second position with some very impressive individual performances and they maintained a comfortable second position until the end of the gala. Well done to every member of the team, you all gave 110% of your best efforts.

Gala Statistics:Girl swimmer of the gala, Rebecca Freestone, Boy swimmer of the gala Tom Scott. Personal Best Performances, Amy Riddick, a great 3.5 second off her previous PB in the girl’s U/12 50m butterfly. Roya Keswick nearly a second off her PB in the girls U/11 25m breaststroke. Rebecca Suzan in the girls U/13 50m freestyle. Good PB’s from the boys, Tom Scott achieved almost a second off his 25m U/11 freestyle and a PB in his 25m butterfly. PB’s for Chris Smith in the boys U/13 50m breastroke and Albert Johnson in his U/13 50m butterfly.

Relay Pb’s, Girls 9 years 4x1 freestyle and 4x1 medley races, Georgina Fisher, Katherine Wolfe,Courtney Sibthorpe and Louis Dunning. Girls U/11 4x1 freestyle relay Rebecca Freestone, Roya Keswick, Anne Clark and Georgina Fisher.

Relay PB’s Boys 9 years 4x1 medley relay, Wallace West, Matthew Day, Oliver Perry and Cameron Bell.

Gala Results: 1st Hemel Hempstead 96 points, 2nd Hoddesdon 114 points, 3rd Hertford 124 points, 4th Harpenden 153 points, 5th Costa Blue 172 points, 6th Watford 205 points.

Peanuts League Round 1 May 10th 2008

A busy weekend was in store for Hoddesdon swimming club with the Eels and the Fish teams competing in the firast round of the peanuts league on Saturday 10th May 2008.

The Eels were competing at Stevenage in Division 1 and hoping for a top three finishing position. There were some good swims across the board with individual first places from Kirstin Meikle with an impressive 50m backstroke and Thomas Stevens with an equally impressive double first in the 25m backstroke and butterfly. There were also four relay first places on the night. The team swam consistently well managing twelve second places and six third places. There were good results from the relays which kept the team in second position where they finished the gala at the end of the night.

Gala Statistics:

Individual First places: Thomas Stevens in the U/11 25 butterfly, Kirstin Meikle in the U/13 50m backstroke, Thomas Stevens in the U/11 25m backstroke

Relay First places: Boy’s U/11 medley relay, Tom Scott, Charlie Stevens, Thomas Stevens and Oliver Perry. Boy’s U/12 freestyle relay, Matthew Hallam, Harry Burtenshaw, Luke Broughal and Thomas Stevens. Boy’s U/11 freestyle relay,Thomas Stevens,Thomas Scott,Charlie Stevens and Oliver Perry. Boy’s U/12 Medley relay,Matthew Hallam,Luke Broughall,Tom Stevens and Harry Burtenshaw.

Personal Best performances: Sydney Crouch 50m backstroke, Hayley Warrington 50m breast, Chris Smith 50m Breastroke, Rebecca Freestone 25m butterfly, Matthew Hallam 5om freestyle, Kirstin Meikle 50m backstroke, Charlie Stevens 25m Breastroke, Albert Johnston 50m freestyle, Rebecca Freestone 25m backstroke, Thomas Stevens 25m backstroke.

Swimmers of the gala:

Girls Kirstin Meikle. Boy’s Albert Johnston and Oliver Perry

Gala Results: 1^st Stevenage 99 points,2^nd Hoddesdon 113 points,3^rd Berkhamstead 127 points,

4^th Hertford 151 points, 5^th Cheshunt 191 points, 6^th Watford 192 points.

Hoddesdon Fish were also in action competing for the first time since their promotion last year to Division 2. They were in a tough gala at Potters Bar and unfortunately were not at full team strength so were under pressure from the outset. However they proved their capability by gaining two first places and achieving an impressive thirteen personal best times. Despite their best efforts they could only manage a sixth place finish on this occasion.

Gala Statistics: Individual first places:

Eliza Thornton in the U/11 25m breastroke

Kane Hagley- King in U/12 25m butterfly

Personal Best performances, Lana Curtis 25m backstroke, Ceilia Wighton 50m breastroke, Sam Johnston 50m breastroke, Michael Walters 25m butterfly, Sarah Cutts 25m freestyle, Harry Spicer 25m freestyle, Chloe Verrrier 50m backstroke,Kane Hagley-King 50m backstroke and 25m butterfly, Ellie George 50m freestyle Harry Spicer 50m freestyle, Holly Charles 25m backstroke, David Cole 25m backstroke.

Swimmers of the gala:

Girls Eliza Thornton. Boy’s Kane Hagley-King.

Gala Results: 1^st Potters Bar 124 points, 2^nd Bushey 129 points,3^rd Hertsmere 134 points

4^th Berulum 148 points, 5^th Ware 177 points, 6^th Hoddesdon 187 points