| NATIONAL SPEEDO LEAGUE SOUTH DIVISION ONE ROUND ONE The two league leaders, namely Amersham S.C. and Portsmouth met in the 2nd round of the league at Oxford on Saturday night. Amersham got off to a brilliant start and at event 6 were level. It was only gradually that Portsmouth took a lead and they proved with a string of international and national swimmers to call upon, just too strong at the end. Sophie Elphick (13) swam really well scoring maximum points for winning the 13& under and Open 100m breaststroke, breaking her own club record with 1.16.49. Daniel Shinnie (16) broke the club 15/16 age group and Open record for 200m IM with 2.15.48s for 2nd place in the Open mens race. Daniel Barraclough(12) swam in the 13&U to win the backstroke by a huge margin in a new club record of 1.10.33s. Dan also swam in 15&U relays as well as his own group. Ben Levart scored a fine double in the 11&U fly and free. Chloe
Veronique won the 11&U 50m backstroke; Kat Shaw (13) won her age group 100m back and scored well in the open IM and 15&U back. The boys 13&U medley relay team won with Jim Thomson, Marcus Hazlewood, Daniel Barraclough and Toby Emmerson and the girls won the 13&U freestyle relay with Holly Williams, Eleanor Dolan, Lucy Kirkwood and Nia Kennedy. The biggest thrill for the supporters came in the penultimate race when in the 6x 50m freestyle Open ladies relay Amersham led Portsmouth for the first 4 legs and only just lost out giving the famous club the fright of their lives. The performance was a triumph for the guts and spirit of the team and the improved performances thanks to the coaching of Malcolm Staight and his assistants. Scores: 1st Portsmouth 355
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