Tornadoes
retain Top League Status with Style!
Tornadoes once again rose to the challenge with a superb victory in their final round of the Western Division Speedo Premier League. In rounds 1 and 2 they had been drawn against the previous league winners and several other top city clubs. This had resulted in very tough galas, in which they fought hard to achieve a 5th and 6th place against high class opposition. After accumulating 49 personal best and 3 club records whilst competing against a host of International swimmers. Despite these efforts, the South Dorset Club found themselves staring relegation in the face again. In 2005 they narrowly missed this fate, after a disastrous third round defeat meant they finished 3rd from bottom.
Most
at the club had been disappointed to read a recent ‘mystery unauthorised’ Speedo
Echo report, which cast doubt on the Team’s abilities. But this only seemed to
spur on the swimmers and they rose to the challenge with great
determination.
The club’s ‘army’ of dedicated organisers thus set about
organising the event, as the host club, at the Bridport leisure centre pool. Despite the team missing 3
members of their squad, and 4 others still covering, from injury or illness,
Tornadoes started steadily. By the end of the first quarter
This
victory moved the club up the final league table to 14th (out of
18).
It was hard to single out individuals for special praise on the night, but special mention must go to the 11&under boys and several others who also had to swim up in the older age groups to cover absentees.
Tornadoes recorded 9 race wins, but more significantly 15 individual and 39 relay personal best times. Team manager said “Every single member of the team played an important part in this tremendous victory”. “I’m proud of them all, they swam really well with pride” exclaimed Head Coach Chris Colman and Assistant Ed Stevens.
Tornadoes will now continue in the top flight of the Western Division Premier League for the 13th year running in 2007.