Reading Swimming Club's B team made a second successive trip to Waterlooville in Division 1 of the Speedo League, taking on five A teams in Basingstoke, Eastleigh, Chalfont, Fareham and hosts Havant and Waterlooville. The division is a big step up from Division 2, which Reading won last season, and although Reading finished sixth for the second round running, 28 of the 50 swims saw times improved from round one and seven were equalled.
Open events: This age group produced Reading's only winner of the meet as the Leanne Haas took the 100 butterfly in a powerful swim in 1.10.56. Amy Thomas gained a good third in the 100 free (1.05.23). Fourth spots went to Louisa Herring and Charlotte Thompson in the back and breaststroke, and to Dan John - back from Loughborough University for the meet - who swam 1.04.71 in the 100 fly. The best relay efforts also yielded fourth places, through Herring, Thompson, Haas and Beth Ayerst in the medley, with the quartet joined by Thomas and Lou Gillatt in the six-leg freestyle which closed the meet.
Under 16: Success was hard to come by, with Chris Dunkley's fourth placed 100 fly in 1.09.9 the pick. Five of the eight individual swimmers made faster times than in the last round.
Under 14: Six of the 10 events yielded faster swims than it round one, with Rebecca Lowe maintaining her recent good form in gaining another fourth place in the breaststroke in 1.30.53.
12 and under: Reading's novices kept their heads up against strong opposition, recording a number of improvements.
Final scores:
1. Basingstoke 219.5
2. Havant and W'ville 217
3. Fareham 212
4. Eastleigh 177
5. Chalfont Otters 124.5
6. Reading 93
Reading team:
Beth Ayerst, Eleanor Cawthorne Natalia Ciecierska-Holmes, Julia Domnick, Hannah Field, Louise Gillat, Leanne Haas, Louisa Herring, Zoe Knott, Rebecca Lowe, Jenny Martin, Georgia O'Brien, Lisa O'Brien, Rheannon Sandell, Beth Staley, Amy Thomas, Charlotte Thompson, Jo Wakefield, Vanessa Wood.
Joe Burgoyne, Ollie Burgoyne, Niko Ciecierski-Holmes, Chris Dunkley George Feast, Max Hurcombe, Daniel John, Joshua Manning, Darren Noakes, Jason Passmore, Conor Sandell, Jeremy Spanu, Joe Statham, Kristian Statham David Thomas, Joe Tichband, Matt Zadrozny
end