NATIONAL JUNIOR FINAL
Sunday 30th November 2008 will be go down in the Southport Swimming Club’s history as one of its greatest days, being crowned as National Junior Champions after winning the National Junior Swimming Final held in Liverpool, involving the top eight teams in the country, in an epic 49 event gala. The road to the final started by winning the premier division swim off of the North West Micro League. This placed them in October in the North of England Final against the other five top teams from the north, City of Newcastle, City of Liverpool, City of Leicester, Cleethorpes and Scunthorpe and last years National Champions Borough of Kirklees (Huddersfield, Batley and Dewsbury combined). Southport led the way up until 10 races to go when Borough of Kirklees just went ahead to take first position, these two teams leaving the other big City teams some way behind. The junior team went into the National Final with revenge on their minds to over haul Kirklees and beat the other top seven teams in the country City of Norwich, City of Newcastle, City of Liverpool, Thurrock, Hillingdon and Boldmere. Again Southport got off to a flying start and after 10 events they were in first position by three points over Kirklees. After twenty they had moved to fourteen points ahead and after thirty event were nineteen ahead. The Southport coaches knew that Kirklees would finish strong and after 40 events the gap had closed to seven, with all the other teams trailing some way behind. The atmosphere at the Everton Park pool was electric with full capacity of competitors and spectators getting around 750 people cheering on their teams. As the gala came to the final event the cannon Kirklees had clawed their way back to four points, Kirklees took an early lead with Southport trailing in 5th position which would have placed Kirklees ahead of Southport overall. At the half way stage Southport had moved into forth, gradually they pulled back into second spot with one swimmer to go they managed to hold on dramatically, to be crowned as National Champions for 2008 by just three points. The final result being Southport 292, Borough Kirklees 289, City of Liverpool 230, Thurrock 214, Boldmere 200, Hilllingdon 194, City of Newcastle 182 and City of Norwich 160. Five years ago the junior team where in Division B of the North West Micro League and only finishing 5th in the Merseyside league ‘The Echo Cup’ an outstanding rise for a small club against all the big city squads. This is down to a number of factors additional water time and commitment of the swimmers, parents, coaches and back room staff to work as one great team. No stars just one great team. Thanks to all the parents at the finals this year who showed fantastic vocal support, it assists greatly in motivating the children. Well done to you all.

SPEEDO LEAGUE
Two weeks after the National Junior Final the seniors competed in the final of the North West Premier Division of the National Speedo League. This is the top club competition in the country and the final consisted of the top eight squads/clubs in the North West. To show you who we were up against at the open age groups Stockport Metro swam 4 Beijing Olympic swimmers, and a further Athens Olympic swimmer and Liverpool swam one. Most teams in the final swam their international swimmers. All the teams in the final are full time professional squads or pull swimmers from full time professional squads. It was a fantastic match and again the atmosphere was great, at the new 50m pool in Liverpool.. The team swam exceptionally well in such distinguished competition finishing in 6th position overall ahead of two other teams in the final. As a coach this gave me as much pleasure as winning the National Junior Final knowing our senior team can now compete at this level and are recognised at senior as well as a junior level. At the beginning of the Speedo League season the target was to avoid relegation and with ten teams below us the club have well surpassed any expectations. Well done to all the swimmers and helpers.

PRESS RELEASE
After the National Junior Final I completed a comprehensive press release which most of you will have read on the board on the poolside. This was passed to the ‘Vister’ along with photos of the team three days after final. No article went in the first week with a promise from the newspaper they would give us a larger piece the following week. In the following weeks paper there was an article with two photos which was a straight cut from the ‘Echo’ nothing like the detail or recognition of my report. A number of people have already complained about the coverage or lack of it with regards to being National Junior Champions but to no avail. I would urge all the parents to complain to the paper as I find it totally disgusting the support we get from the newspaper and local council. This is not the first time this newspaper haven’t placed articles in, which have been sent with regards to the swimmers and club. May I add from now on I will not be writing anymore articles for this paper as it’s just a waste of time?

LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Earlier in December Harry went to the Liverpool and District AGM and was presented with the top club award from the L and D Championships, for the second year in succession.