English Schools Swimming Association 2007 Relay Championships for Secondary Schools

Kate Hutchinson (team captain)
Suzanne Ward
Fern Gardner
Emma Nutting

Congratulations to our Intermediate Girls team, who represented the school with such distinction at the National Finals of these Championships. The top 12 schools in the country were invited to this prestigious event, held in Harrogate on Saturday, February 3. The school had its first entry in the ESSA Championships only 9 years ago and the girls became the 5th team from the school to qualify for the National Finals final in that time - a fine achievement for the girls and a great honour for the school!

A magnificent performance in the regional rounds in November saw the team emerge as champions of Division 3 (the Yorkshire, Humberside and Lincolnshire region) and had qualified them in 11th place for these finals in the Freestyle relay. That time had been a Division 3 record, eclipsing the previous best time, also held by HGS since 1998.

However, on Saturday the girls surpassed even that in the second of the two heats, taking more than 4 seconds off their time to qualify for the Grand Final in 4th place with a realistic prospect of a medal. However, despite improving their time yet further, a very closely contested race in the Grand Final saw them finish eventually in 5th place against some notable opposition; all this from a nationwide entry of almost 300 schools.

Grand Final Result
1. Plymouth College                                      1-51.42
2. Millfield School                                          1-51.89
3. Beaconsfield High School                        1-54.10
4. Central Newcastle High School                1-55.41
5. Heckmondwike Grammar School       1-55.54
6. Guildford High School                               1-56.06
7. Saint Martin's School, Solihull                   1-56.39
8. Kelly College, Tavistock                           1-58.39

Other National Finalists
Ripley St. Thomas' School, Lancaster
West Somerset Community College
Tring College
Kesteven and Grantham School

W. Allen