Titans Make Waves at National Swimming League Gala

Titians at the Gala

Last Saturday 3rd October Ellesmere College Titans competed in Round One of the National Swimming League

With a team of just 27 swimmers, many having to swim up a full two age groups and compete in up to 8 events, the Titans arrived at the Leigh Sports Village complex near Wigan ready to do battle.

Having moved up a division last year the Titans were facing clubs from all over the North of England. By the end of the evening they had swum their way into overall second position just a few points behind Gateshead but in front of Wigan, Chorley, Swinton and Chadderton.

The final team points were as follows:

Gateshead                               218

Ellesmere College Titans        207

Chorley Marlins                      192

Wigan                                      161

Swinton                                   140

Chadderton                             120

Having just returned from this years World Swimming Championships in Rome, Stacey Tadd lead the way for the Titans with an emphatic victory in the first event, the Open Ladies 100m Individual Medley (IM) in a time of 1:06.98. Not to be outdone former Olympic swimmer Darren Mew won the second event of the gala, the Open Mens 100m IM, in 1:00.70. Inspired by this double winning start the Titans held on to first place in the overall points tally until the final few races when tiredness finally took its toll. Over the course of the 50 events Titan swimmers secured 12 first places, recorded a total of 20 Personal Best times and broke 11 Club Records.

Head Coach Jon Pardoe said the night was not really about individual performances. Instead it was a demonstration of team spirit, sheer grit and determination and above all what can be achieved against the odds when there is a collective desire to go for it and the sights are set high. Against big town and city clubs, founded decades of years ago, with hundreds of swimmers to select from, the Titans definitely did both Ellesmere College and the town of Ellesmere proud.

So congratulations to Jamie Thomas, Alfie Pardoe, Ottillie Fairhurst, Hannah Greene, Elliot Hughes, Courtney Pickstone, David Main, Lauren Bond, Daniel Howell, Annie Mellings, Annie Jones, Stacey Tadd, Darren Mew,  Jessica Thomas, Natalie Greene, Tom Lloyd, Thomas Holland, Michael Doyle, Jack Bacon. Naomi Craig, James Wilson, Jimmy Kershaw, Ryen Spencer-Wolfe, Sam Holland, Tessa Murphy, Emily Bond and Eleanor Shields.

The Titans now move on to Round 2 on November 14th.

7th October 2009  Back to News