DARTFORD DISTRICT DIVE TRIUMPHANTLY INTO NEW YEAR
North West Kent's swimming clubs clashed for the first time in 2008 with the Tudor League Gala at the brand new sports and social centre at Eltham on Saturday 12 th . Eight local swimming clubs, Erith, Bromley, Sevenoaks, Gravesend, Bexley, Eltham, Greenwich and Dartford compete in this popular league but normally have to make do with ‘byes' as all the other local pools are six lane whereas the magnificent new centre at Eltham has eight. It was tremendous to see so much talent in the water at the same time. In an exciting evening of powerfully young talent performances it looked on paper as if the teams would be evenly matched.
Dartford District squad had very few first places but the power was consistent throughout the whole age groupings as they came second and third time after time. Team coach John Willis' post Christmas trepidation turned to euphoria as the individual swimmers came in with personal bests aplenty and the other teams could not match the consistency.
Dartford have always been a ‘team' club and it was fair to say they swam for each other on Saturday. Highlights were difficult to pinpoint but the girls under 14 age group of Miram Elphick, Naomi Smith, Chelsey Eyers and Sally Nicholas won both of their relays. Boys under 10's Keelan Callard, Charlie Knight, Matthew Cross along with the wonderful Butterfly stroke of Ryan Willson were up and coming shining stars, and a mention should go to Grace Ladley, Maya Willis, Sophie Pembroke, Fiona Jeffreys who competed for the first time in their club colours in the girls 9yrs and under grouping.
Dartford outstripped Greenwich , their runners-up, by a massive seventy five points to get the league and title race off to a good start!
Happy New Year and Keep Swimming!
Kevin Ladley