KENDAL swimmers were ecstatic at clinching promotion to the premier division of the North West Speedo Swim League (North West Area) after a thrilling A final gala.

Just qualifying for the final held at Salt Ayre, Lancaster, was an achievement.

To get there Kendal had travelled to compete against teams from Lancashire, Greater Manchester and North Wales.

Kendal finished fifth in the league table and would have been content with this position, but everyone concerned with the club was delighted when they surpassed themselves by sealing one of the two automatic promotion place on offer at the A final gala.

After the opening relay events, in which the club generally do well, Kendal had a narrow two-point lead over Leyland and the individual swims produced some star performances from across the ages.

In the 10/11yr age there was a second place apiece for Sophie Matthews in the 50m breaststroke and Kirsty-Jo Blenkharn in the 50m butterfly with Blenkharn adding a third for the 50m backstroke and Kerry McClurg also third in the 50m freestyle.

Against some strong competition, the boys secured more points from Marc Robinson (3rd 50m breast-stroke), Conor Bolton (4th 50m butterfly), Matthew Shaw (4th 50m freestyle) and Josh Stafford (5th 50m back-stroke).

Kendal's 13/under team produced some terrific results with a double victory for Nicola Rigg and Glen Robinson in the 50m backstroke.

Rigg claimed a second win in the 50m butterfly and Glen added a second in the 50m breaststroke. Hannah Moseley triumphed in the 50m freestyle and Lucy Mackereth finished third in breaststroke

Ryan Nowell gained a superb second in the 50m freestyle with Josh Stafford swimming up and finishing fifth in butterfly.

Harriet Baker made her mark in the 15/under 100m backstroke with a convincing win and she took third in the 100m freestyle. Ann Howell challenged hard, but had to settle for second in the breaststroke with Emma Matthews fourth in the butterfly.

Darren Stewart made valiant attempts, having just returned to competitive swimming, and claimed a fourth in backstroke and sixth in breaststroke, while Jonathan Lumb was fifth in freestyle.

High standards among the senior swimmers produced a series of excellent results.

Catherine Pickthall claimed second in the individual medley and third in freestyle. Sarah Jones was a well-deserved second in breast-stroke, Ceri Lumb third in backstroke and Katie Soane fifth in butterfly

Joe Speakman dominated for first place in freestyle with Matthew Clinton fourth in backstroke and sixth in the individual medley. Jonathan Rigg was sixth in butterfly.

A couple of unfortunate disqualifications lost some important points, but Kendal were still well placed to pose a threat as the last round of relays began.

The girls were inspired with the 13/under teams taking first places in freestyle and medley events, a result equalled by the women's teams with two more victories.

The 15/under girls won the medley and finished second in freestyle, while the 9-11yr team were third in the freestyle.

The men's team took second place in the medley and fourth in freestyle.

The 15/under boys finished third in freestyle and sixth in medley; the 13/under boys were fourth in both of their relays, with the 9-11yr boys third in medley and fourth in freestyle.

It had been close on the point board all night, but at the final count Leyland had just crept ahead of Kendal with 191 points to win the league, but Kendal were ecstatic to discover that they would be promoted to the premier division along with Leyland by finishing second on 186 points.

It was a fitting finale to a superb year, which has seen Kendal go from strength to strength in this wider field of competition.

January 16, 2003 12:00