The first round of the 2005 Thames Valley Junior League at Central Pool on Saturday looked a tough call for the host club. Half a dozen of Reading's top 12-and-under swimmers including Matteo Spanu, Rachael Mills and Frankie Wilkins were competing in Sheffield, and several very late withdrawals left a scratch squad drawing heavily on the club's teaching programme to tackle local neighbours Wycombe, Chesham, Amersham and Slough & Eton.

The team order was established early on and the meet was dominated by a Slough squad who were a great credit to their coach Paul Lloyd. Reading eventually placed fifth out of five, but the meet was an excellent learning experience for several swimmers new to competition, with three very encouraging heat wins late in the programme, and the need to "swim up" saw younger swimmers like Eleanor Wood and James Bradley tackling more swims than they had expected to.

Annette Hopson won the 11 years 50m backstroke and the hosts took both the 12 years breaststroke events through Katie Hawkins and Jason Passmore, Passmore repeating his excellent performances for the division-winning Speedo League B team before Christmas.

Other swims singled out by the coaching team came from Georgina Wilkins and Richard Szulc in the 10 years breaststroke - both swimmers still in Jakie Cantle's teaching programme - Isobel Keenan of Development 3 Squad in the same event one year up and Will Tyrrell, second in the 10s 50 fly.

Best freestyle efforts came from Barnaby Kempster (10), James Bradley (11) and James Tichband (12), all placing third, while Kate Mettali for the girls and Sam Robinson for the boys were the pick of the youngest nine years age group.

Final scores: 1. Slough & Eton 165 2. Amersham 149 3. Chesham 120 4. Wycombe 98 5. Reading 86.

Reading team:
Eyraina Barkat; Eleanor Cawthorne; Natalie Cawthorne; Yasmin Dickinson; Katie Hawkins; Annette Hopson; Isobel Keenan; Jenny Martin; Kate Metalli; Emily Nichols; Ellen O'Brien; Olivia Paige; Bethany Staley; Georgina Wilkins; Eleanor Wood.

Matthew Alderman; James Bradley; Sebastian Cutler; Andrew Jukes; Barnaby Kempster; Jacob Lancashire; William Paige; Jason Passmore; Jodhvir Sidhu; Jeremy Spanu; Charlie Radnedge; Sam Robinson; Richard Szulc; James Tichband; Joe Tichband.

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