IN the third and final round of the Cornwall and West Devon League on Saturday, Tavistock Swimming Club were competing against Carn Brea and Penzance. After being pipped into 3rd place by half a point by Carn Brea in the 2nd Round of the Cornwall and West Devon League last month, Tavistock were determined to turn the tables. The Boys 4 x 50m Freestyle Cannon team of Sam Campbell, Tom Crocker, Jake Broome and Chris Ralph got them off to a flying start, scoring full points in the second event. This was followed by a number of relay wins with team members Kirsty Best, Laura Radgick, Alice Warnett, Laura Aspen, Ross Williams, Sam Broome, Sam Harmsworth, William Carter, Felix Davies, Tom Grennan-Cruise, Joshua Stephens and Tom Waddington. The team of Laura Aspen, Catriona Smith, Rebecca Windemer and Kirsty Smith narrowly missed first in the 13/under 4 x 50m Freestyle. Gaining full points for Tavistock in the Freestyle events were Laura Radgick in the Open 100m and the 15/under; Sam Harmsworth (pb) in the 13/under 50m; Sam Campbell in the 11/under 50m. In the Butterfly events Tavistock had four wins ? Laura Radgick (pb) and Ross Willams in the 15/under 100m event; Tom Crocker (pb) in the 13/under 50m; Felix Davies (pb) in the 11/under 25m. Both Amy Warnett and Will Crocker swam two second personal best times in the15/under 100m Butterfly event and Charlotte Mellor in the 11/under 25m. The Backstroke events gave Tavistock a further three first places ? Sam Broome in the 15/under 100m; Joshua Stephens (pb) and Catriona Smith (pb) in the 13/under 50m. Personal best times were gained in the Open 100m Backstroke by Michael Best and in the 11/under 50m by Cathrine O?Boyle. Tom Waddington, in the 13/under 50m event had Tavistock?s only first in Breaststroke but Rebecca Tansey, swimming in the 11/under 50m achieved a 3 second personal best. With Tavistock only two points ahead of Carn Brea, all rested on the final event, the Mixed 2 x 50m Freestyle Cannon, which was to be one of the most exciting events of a very enjoyable and sporting gala. Natalie Greep swam the first leg for Tavistock, followed by Sam Campbell, Laura Aspen, Joshua Stephens, Laura Radgick and Jake Broome. Tavistock and Carn Brea battled it out for first, the lead changing a couple of times, then both teams were swimming side by side to thunderous support from swimmers and spectators. Rachael Kelly took over from Jake at almost exactly the same time as the Carn Brea swimmer and held Tavistock?s equal first position to hand over to Chris Ralph for the final leg. It was neck and neck all the way but Chris just managed to pull ahead slightly in the last few metres to touch first by the narrowest of margins. Laura Radgick was a worthy winner of the Swimmer of the Gala, awarded by Coaches Paul Chinn and Wendy Stephens. Penzance, despite not having swimmers for every event, nevertheless went all out and had their share of first places with Tavistock and Carn Brea and certainly the excellent swimming from the other teams encouraged Tavistock squad to swim a total of 21 personal best times throughout the age groups. Final points ? Tavistock 161.5, Carn Brea 158.5, Penzance 131.
