Saturday night saw the first competition of the season for Marlins SC. New season, new Head Coach, new ambition all came together to make for a very exciting gala.

Fine performances from Clare Shaw (3^rd 1:13.48) and Matt Gibson kicked off the racing in Open IM with Matt showing great determination in his strong finish to clinch our first win.(1:03.20)

The 8 relays that followed gave most of the team their first swim of the evening and Marlins posted 3 wins and 3 seconds to be leading overall after 10 races. The girl’s 13/U medley relay of Molly Firth, Georgie Gratton and the Croydon-Kempster sisters, Brittany and Sophy, all had fantastic swims to win whilst the boy’s 15/U Freestyle relay and the men’s Open Medley relays dominated their own events.

The gala points stayed very close throughout the competition and with 30 of the 50 events completed there was only 7 points between the leaders Elmbridge and Marlins in 3^rd with 2^nd place Croydon only 1 point ahead. Although Marlins finished the evening as strongly as they had started once again gaining 3 victories and 3 seconds from the final 8 relays, it was not quite enough to pull past Croydon or Elmbridge.

To pick out individual performances on such a night where everyone gave their best and many achieved personal best times is very difficult. However, for strong anchor-swims in the relays Bea Meborah-Collinson, Josh Harding, Leah Clarke and Sophy Croydon-Kempster deserve a mention for the excitement that they caused. Molly Childs stepped up to the block to swim both the 100 breast in the open age group and the 15/u age group; she went 0.60sec faster in her second race demonstrating her determination to win more crucial points for the team.

Dave Masters went 59.58 in the 100m Backstroke and Guy Cooper a well-deserved 57.01 in the 15/U 100free -both were super wins. Emma shilton had 2 great swims in the 11/u age group dominating both the 50m Breaststroke (40.29) and the 50m Fly. Marlins also showed strength in ladies backstroke with Naomi Shaw winning for the 15/U age group (1:14.59) and Olivia Dickie winning the Open (1:12.48). Breaststrokers were not to be outdone however, with Brittany Croydon-Kempster winning for the 13/U (1:28.09) while Jack Payne won the Open (1:12.73) on his debut swim for the club.

Marlins were of course the nosiest on poolside with their support for team-mates unmatched. Marlins all looked fast off the block and employed great use of the underwater phase proving that their coaches’ efforts do bring rewards.

Well done to all the swimmers, coaches, whips, officials and supporters.

Competition will now focus on achieving great results in the Arena National League and in getting those County qualifying times at the various Open Meets.

Go Marlins!