The Evening Post-sponsored Reading Swimming Club swam in the first round of the 2007 Thames Valley Junior League at Maidenhead's Magnet Sports Centre.
The competition, for under 12s, gives a first away outing for many young swimmers. Reading were up against strong opposition in previous winners of the competition from Windsor, Wycombe, Maidenhead and Chalfont.
9 years age group
The girls' freestyle relay team of Anna Davies, Nicola Ryan, Holly Bartlett and Abigail Shepherd - all members of Reading's teaching programme - took 3rd place. The boys' special medley relay (swum with no butterfly leg) led off by the youngest team member, Bruno Kempster, followed by Rickvir Sidhu, Freddy Woods and Tads Ciercierska-Holmes, took a fourth.
10 Years Age Group
Alex Cawthorne starred with wins in both the breast and freestyle events by clear margins in times of 44.88 and 34.82 respectively. Ruaridh Sheppard placed third in the backstroke and Hamish Scott, competing for the first time, held onto his stroke to take fourth spot in the butterfly. James Babbington joined these three in the freestyle relay and the team placed third. Another first-timer and a late addition to the squad, Jodie Penny, took fourth in her backstroke.
11 Years Age Group
Breastroker Jodhvir Sidhu was the only success in an age group badly hit by dropouts through illness, coming home second in 53,64. Names for the future who will benefit from the experience are Catherine Abbott, Rosie Parkinson, Pippa Woods, Alex Douglas, Marcello Tait and Morgan Nash, who was another drafted in at very short notice.
12 Years Age Group
Luca Poli swam a superb breaststroke to win in 42.66 also swimming strong legs in the relay events. Beth Staley took a backstroke second place in 42.92, with Sam Kemp third in the boys' event. The boys' relay team of Kemp, Harry Nash, Niko Ciecierski-Holmes and Poli placed second twice.
The performances of the young swimmers never wavered against strong opposition, but Reading coaches will certainly be looking for improvements in the next two rounds.
Final Result: Windsor 191, Wycombe 139.5, Maidenhead 136, Chalfont 86.5, Reading 73.