NATIONAL JUNIOR LEAGUE FINAL
Most of you will have seen the local press reports and the December issue of the Swimming Times. Yes, Southport Swimming Club Junior Team is the top team in the country for the second year in succession. In a fantastic gala on the 29th November at Enfield the clubs junior side swam in front of around 750 spectators and other competitors, against the other top seven team from the country. Even after a couple of races Southport had got an early lead over the Borough of Kirklees and as we pulled away from them Stockport Metro began to close the gap on us. At the three quarter stage Southport had moved into a commanding lead and still with four races left of the 49 (even if we got disqualified in them all) we knew we had retained the National title. A fantastic achievement from a small club with no feeder clubs unlike our big city competitors. Final result Southport 295, Stockport Metro 261, Borough of Kirklees (Huddersfield, Batley and Otley)242, City of Leicester 218, City of Newcastle 212, Hillingdon (a consortium of London clubs) 207, City of Norwich 188 and Thurrock 136. Well done to all the swimmers who swam not only in the final but throughout the year.

NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE OF THE NORTH WEST FINAL
This was always going to be a tough gala especially with a few swimmers missing and competing against the other top seven senior squads in the North West of Britain. We had qualified to go into the final at the 50m pool in Liverpool in sixth position. This was the position we finished in last year’s final but we were some way behind the other top five who all got through to the National A or B final in Sheffield. With a number of International swimmers in the water the team did exceptionally well again finishing in sixth position only 6 points behind Preston and 23 behind City of Salford. This closed the gap between Southport and some of the other teams to bring them within striking distance of making a National Senior Final, which I believe we could have achieved this year with a full squad. Well done to all the swimmers who took part a great result. Final result City of Liverpool 328, Stockport Metro 302, Warriors of Warrington 264, City of Salford 225, Preston 208, Southport 202, City of Chester 144, Carnforth 127.

WELL DONE TO LIZZIE
Well done to Lizzie Simpkin who won a gold medal in the Medley relay in the Disability World Championships in Rio along with making four individual finals.