The Evening Post-sponsored Reading Swimming Club is the only club in the Thames Valley area to field two teams in the National Speedo League. The value of the second string was shown on Saturday at Central Pool, where Reading B ran out winners in their Division 2 South (West) fixture.

Exactly as it should be, several swims will put pressure on the A squad – themselves securing an excellent Premier Division third spot in Brighton – and as well as providing great entertainment the league as always showed the sport at its most inclusive.

Major contributors ranged from Paralympian Graham Edmunds and former captain James Golding to 11-year-old breaststroker Jason Passmore, and the spirit was typified by Development Squad coach Emma Tarrant swimming in the same team as some of her charges and by Eleanor Wood, who stepped into the youngest girls’ quartet at 30 minutes’ notice.

Despite a fine individual IM second spot for Amy Thomas in the first of the 50 events, Reading made only a so-so start - no wins until heat eight. Three relay wins in succession remedied this, though, as the boys 15-and-under freestyle team and both open medley squads claimed first place.

It wasn’t quite enough to take the lead after 10 swims, the first point at which running totals are tallied, as Reading trailed Cranleigh (one of four first strings in the six-team event) by a point. Rushmoor B, Worthing and Farnham occupied the middle ground, with a very young Feltham squad trying hard but well off the pace.

Andrew Wilson was Reading’s first individual winner in heat 12, the 10/11 50m backstroke in 41.51, and the home team took a grip of things with a series of fine wins. Rheannon Sandell and Craig Frankum won the 15/U back events in 1:15.08 and 1:07.54 and Matt Sandell - back from university for the meet - and Charlotte Thompson the open butterfly swims (1:01.01 and 1:12.42).

Thompson had a great season in the Bs in 2003 and was again the star of the female team, later adding an open breaststroke win in 1:22.52.

Further butterfly wins from Louisa Herring and Andrew Chandler in the 15/U division and a second place for 10-year-old David Mills over 50 metres saw Reading ahead at the mid-point, but with Rushmoor now leading the pack and well in touch.

Jason Passmore’s breaststroke six-pointer, Thompson’s second win and a big margin for Frankum in his year’s freestyle, along with a beautifully paced 15/U 100m free second for Louise Gillatt, kept things ticking over.

Golding’s 1:13.89 easily won the open breaststroke, and Reading closed the individual events with second spots from Naomi Herring (13/U free), Peter Kirwan (15/U breaststroke) and both open freestylers, Thomas and Edmunds.

Relay wins for the youngest boys and their 15/U counterparts set the scene for the closing open freestyle relays, swum over six legs rather than four. Nerves jangled as what looked like a comfortable win for Reading’s ladies was ruled out for a takeover "flyer", but the male team saw Reading home.

Rushmoor kept up the pressure, taking the race on the referee’s call with both teams given the same time, but it was Reading’s night.

Scores at Central Pool: 1. Reading "B" 220; 2. Rushmoor "B" 210; 3. Farnham 195; 4. Cranleigh 181; 5: Worthing, 174; 6. Feltham 61.

Reading team: 
Beth Ayerst; Eleanor Cawthorne; Louise Gillatt; Naomi Herring; Louisa Herring; Alice Hopkins; Annette Hopson; Rachael Hunter-Lara; Hannah Lamb; Lauren Macarthur; Lisa O’Brien; Maria Ramos; Claire Ryman; Rheannon Sandell; Emma Tarrant; Amy Thomas; Charlotte Thompson; Sally Wise; Eleanor Wood; Vanessa Wood.

Andrew Chandler; Charles Davey; Graham Edmunds; Craig Frankum; James Golding; Daniel Jackson; Peter Kirwan; Harry Marsh; David Mills; Josh Morsman; Markus Orgill; Elliott Packham; Jason Passmore; Lewis Ross; Matt Sandell; Andrew Wilson; Rob Wilson.

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