Sharks win Championships

Following on from their success earlier this year in winning the East Clwyd League, Welshpool Sharks pulled off another great series of performances at the League’s concluding Championships at Wrexham’s Water World.

Known as the ECL, the league is battled out over the course of three galas in March between Buckley, Connah’s Quay, Flint, Mold, Welshpool and Wrexham and this year it was Welshpool who finished top of the table by two points to win the league for the very first time.

Following the summer break, the Sharks took on last weekend’s Championship Event which traditionally rounds off the League each year.

The day’s swimming saw the Welshpool based swimmers achieve personal bests as well as bringing home medals galore.

Cari Jones came away with a clutch of medals in her girls nine years category whilst Kate Jones broke through the 30 seconds barrier in the girls 14-15 years 50m freestyle event. Her sister Ellen edging ever closer to breaking the 40 seconds mark in the 50m breaststroke by winning the girls 12-13 years event in 40.05.

Sharks swimmer Morgan Bowen, who later this month will be representing Swim Wales at a UK Regions Event at Sheffield broke the magic 30secs barrier in the boys 13-14 years 50m Butterfly winning in 29.77, arguably one of day’s best performances.

Morgan Matthews won the Championships ‘Super Shrimp’ Award for the boys 9-10year group. Jason Simister put in several strong performances to comfortably win the Best Boy Award for 13-14years whilst Carwyn Owen was one of only a few swimmers on the day to break a Championship Record, winning the 13-14 years 50m Breaststroke in a record time of 36.64.

“It was a great day for the Welshpool swimmers and reflects really well on their dedication and the effort they put in at training.” said Sharks Head Coach Peter Swanton.

“Earlier in the year we achieved our best ever result in the East Clwyd League since we joined 5 years ago. Winning the League is a huge step forward for us. Today was an opportunity for swimmers to swim for themselves, set new personal bests and win medals. The hard work they’re putting in at training is now beginning to shine through and as a team we’re really looking forwards to some big events in 2016.”

Next up for the Sharks is the Shrewsbury Open Gala later this month followed by a Sprint Event at Wrexham in November before the Swim Wales sub-region Championships at Llandudno in early December.