Herts Major league – Round 3
Hemel’s swimmers competed in the third and final round of the Herts Major League in both Division 1 and Division 3.
In Division 3 Hemel were crowned winners of the league. Four members of the same family competed in the same team, Mark, Sophie, Ollie and Jamie Ayres. It was Ollie’s last gala as he has chosen to stop swimming to focus on his football.
Hemel won 12 of their races, came second in 10 and third in 9, the team remained unbeaten in all three rounds. At the end of the meet Hemel finished in first place with 132 pts against Hoddesdon B, Harpenden B, Buntingford, Broxbourne, Bushey, Letchworth and Kings Langley. It was a fantastic team effort from all, achieving 36 new or PB times on the night. The team will move up to Division 2 next year.
Great wins came from Paul Mackie – Open 100m Free, Jake Smith – U12 25m Back, Ellen Fender – U16 50m Fly, Fynn Archibald U14 50m Fly, Girls U16 4 x 25m Medley Relay team (Lauren Windsor, Ellen Fender, Isabella Sherwani and Molly McLoughlin) and Boys Open Relay team (Oliver Ayres, Dave Pirrie, Paul Mackie and Conner Reynolds), Sam Gaines – U12 25m Fly, Lauren Windsor – U16 50m Back, Louis Dunham U16 50m Back, Boys U12 4x 25m Medley relay consisting of Jake Smith, Jamie Ayres, Samuel Gaines and Harrison Mills and the Squadron Relay team: Jasmine Coe, Samuel Gaines, Chloe Purkis, Fred Davies, Molly McLoughlin, Louis Dunham, Rachel Barber and Conner Reynolds.
Hemel’s girl swimmer of the gala went to Molly McLoughlin and the boys to Fred Davies amd Fynn Archibald.
In Division 1 the Hemel team finished 6th, achieving 19 new or relay PB’s, the 4 individual PB’s came from Charles Rayner (2) U12 50m Breast and 50m Fly, Ben Garratt U14 100m Free and Leanne Abrey U12 50m Free.
Swimmers of the gala were awarded to Megan Pirrie and Sam Pigott.