A testing time for the RASCALS

Friday 13th April proved to be a big session for both our A and B squads. B squad started the evening off with their first instalment of National Plan level 8 which included a 400 metre swim and a number of turns. The younger members of A squad were put through their paces with National Plan level 9 - this is a step up in distances to be covered and includes an 800 metre continuous swim. We’ll update you once the final outcomes have been covered.

The older members of A squad were put through their paces with the newly updated beep test - this is a gruelling exercise and one that proves to be a true test for the swimmers.

The results were:

First victory of the year and may it continue

We had a substantial team for the first BML gala of the year and it was required to fight off a spirited fight from Minsthorpe and Dearne Valley. We had new caps in Teddy Claypole and Hollie Hazlett and great performances throughout the team which all totted up to a safe victory at the end of the gala.

There was a real run of first and second places with the swimmers pulling out all the stops throughout the gala. On the day there were victories for Lauren Walker, Katie Pendlebury, Joel Feirn, Farrah Gaskell, Jordan Allerton, Jacob Greenhalgh, Chelsea Eales, Adam Cunliffe, Lucy Clarke, Rachel Grashion and Josh Sellars. The relay teams were also awesome with the girls open team recording their first victory for over a year.

The final result was Rossington 148, Minsthorpe 134, Dearne Valley 106.

Well done to all the swimmers and many thanks to our volunteers for making the gala possible - Jane, Sue, Danny, Dot, Julie, Debbie, Svenja, Sandra, Glynn, Jill and Clive.

Barnsley Minor League v Minsthorpe Marlins & Dearne Valley Dolphins

John Harriman Championships 2012

For the coaches, parents and swimmers alike it is great to see that our club had a great showing in these championships with Rossington coming an impressive fourth out of the nine clubs who entered.

Many thanks also to our volunteers; Jacob, Jill, Sandra and Clive who were either Team Managers, Judges or Medal organisers - working alongside our very own DMASA President, Ian Gordon.

This was a first appearance for a number of our young swimmers with Megan Sieroczuk, Rachel Masterman, Alister Dockerty and Lucas De-Almeira all getting their club caps.

The first gala was on March 4th and we were represented by Emily Blunt, Morgan, Alister, Chelsea, Michael, Jack Gilkes, Millie, Jacob, Joseph, Adam Hale, Alexia, Emma Masterman, Lucy Pickard and Lauren Walker.

Emily, an old hand at 10 PBs in every event and this gala was no exception with her getting 2 out of 2; her sister Morgan succeeded in medalling in the Breaststroke (6th) and also achieved a personal address in the event. Alister, in his first away gala got two personal bests and a medal in the freestyle; Chelsea alongside her team captain duties chipped in with two medals including a first in the breaststroke. Michael can really turn on the power in galas and he achieved 2 personal bests and three medals, including a first in the butterfly while Jack Gilkes, another rapid riser, achieved two personal bests and a 6th place medal in the freestyle. Millie Vanilli is full steam ahead and got two personal bests; and just missed out on medals; Jacob alongside his boy’s team captain duties picked up four medals. Joseph was in a tough age group but still managed to pick up a medal in the breaststroke; Adam Hale who is still learning the ropes in galas was successful in getting two personal bests. Alexia has been training hard this year and came away with a personal best in the freestyle; Emma Masterman at the start of her gala career also came away with one personal best and a very near miss. Lucy Pickard is a fast improver and the extra time in A squad has made a difference with her coming away with two personal bests and two medals including a first in the front crawl; finally we had Lauren Walker and she never disappoints in any event getting a personal best and a medal in the butterfly.

At the second gala held on Sunday 11th March we had a slightly smaller group made up of Thomas, Lucas, Joel, Rachel Masterman, Olivia Medlock, Callie, Josh Sellars, Josh Greenhalgh, Megan Shentall and Megan Sieroczuk - 2 Joshs and two Megans, who would have credited it?

Thomas is working hard in training and he was repaid with one personal best and three medals; Lucas at his first event showed real fire in his events and came away with two personal bests. Joel is becoming a real force in Doncaster swimming and he showed his class by getting three personal bests and four medals while Josh Greenhalgh in his joint capacity as boys vice-captain and swimmer came away with one personal best and four first places earning himself top boy in his age group. Rachel Masterman is as competitive in galas as she is at training and it showed with her getting three personal bests and one medal; Olivia Medlock in her first gala did very well and got two good personal bests. Callie Ramshaw is moving up the ranks in B squad and did us proud with three personal bests and a medal in the breaststroke; Josh Sellars, a gala vet, came away with one personal best and four medals, including three first places which secured him top boy in his age group. Finally we had the two Megans, Shentall was on good form and achieved one personal best while Sieroczuk achieved two personal bests in her first gala.

So the score of the doors at the final count was 38 personal bests and 33 medals shared between our 24 swimmers - a great return from this Doncaster wide event. Well done swimmers you were great.