**Stop Press**Abingdon Gala Review**

Abingdon Gala 6.01.08 – A Review of the day.

15 children, a huge contingent of relatives and a lot of excitement contributed to this very exhausting day.

Abingdon promised to be the main launch of the Barramundis, as the Gala was local and we were in a large number. From the results I can safely say we’ve made our mark!!

This time there was no music to jolly us all along . The PA system left us all wondering what was being said and the temperature soared. But the 8 lanes of super swimmers entertained everyone.

4 Barramundis gained Speeding Tickets and there were other top placings too. All achieved their personal best:

In the Hall of fame:

• Daniel Amphlett (fastest in 50m backstroke , 9/10yrs)
• Mollie Boyce ( 1^st in 50m backstroke, 9/10 yrs )
• Hollie Bristow
• Edward Burrowes
• Jemma Castle
• Poppy Concannon
• Jocelyne Girgis
• Yassmine Girgis ( Speeding ticket for 50m freestyle & 100m IM , 2^nd in 50m B.fly)
• David Murphy ( Speeding ticket and1st place in 50m freestyle )
• Adele Page
• Olly Ripley
• Daniella Springett ( Speeding ticket in 50m breaststroke and the fastest )
• Richard Stone
• Alice Walker
• Lucy Walker

The following 6 children have definitely qualified for the Counties in March:

Mollie, Poppy, Daniella, Lucy, Alex, David

and the following 5 are ‘considered’:

Yassmine, Jocelyne, Hollie, Ollie, Richard

It was good to see other clubs, Oxford, Wantage and of course, Abingdon were our local rivals. Altogether, there were 17 clubs represented:

• 4 Shires SC
• Aylesbury & District SC
• Abingdon Vale SC
• Bicester Bluefins SC
• Banbury SC
• Bourne End SC
• Bletchley & District SC
• Chalfont Otters SC
• Buckingham Swans SC
• City of Oxford SC
• Chesham SC
• Kidlington & Gosford SC
• Didcot Barramundi SC
• Newport Pagnell SC
• Maxwell SC
• Witney & District SC
• Wantage White Horses SC

There were some familiar faces, 1 or 2 familiar swim coaches, too, who had changed allegiance but on the whole it was a very sporting affair!

It was a long wait for 1 or 2 youngsters who had races at the end of the day and all need to be praised for they way they conducted themselves. It was great to see the gang shouting and cheering when one of their team was in the water.

I think we have all learned a lot from the experience and realized that, though small, we are a force to be reckoned with.

Thank you to all who came to support the children and thanks goes to Iryna for her terrific coaching.

Looking forward to the next one!!!

Jo Murphy