This was the final in the series
of Airedale and Wharfedale gala for 2006, with Skipton returning no less than
10 trophies from last year's event. Looking down the list of entrants going
into the gala, Skipton's hopes of retaining them were high. The outstanding
performance of the night was the girls 13 & 14 yrs 4 x 50m Individual Medley
team of Julia Scrivin, Jenna Chatburn, Ellie Belk and Annie Riley, retaining
their title by carving a massive 12 seconds from their own record, this was
set only last year by a Skipton team consisting of three of the four current
members, the time of 2min 11.62 seconds, was of such quality it would have placed
the team only just outside the top ten at the recent National Inter County Championships.
Alex Belk retained a further two
of the trophies won last year by Skipton, winning the Boys 15 & 16 years
100m Butterfly in a new event record of 1.03.00 with Elliott Rhodes making it
a one two for Skipton. Alex also took the Men's open 100m Freestyle with Elliott
finishing fifth. Jenna Chatburn retained her own girls100m Breaststroke title,
lowering the event record that she set last year and also producing a long awaited
new personal best. Abigail Rhodes was also reclaiming trophies for Skipton by
taking the girls 11 & 12 years 50m Backstroke title.
Whilst the list of winners was far short of the total notched up last year there
were also some well placed finishes in the finals. Sliver medals went to James
Dawson in the Boys 11 &12 years 50m Backstroke and Julia Scrivin lowered
her personal best in the Women's open 100 Freestyle, taking second place, with
Annie Riley finishing fourth. The boy's 13 & 14 years Medley team of Edward
Haigh, Chris Garner, David Fong and Jack Lonsdale narrowly missed out on retaining
their title with second in the Boys 13 & 14 years 4 x 50m medley relay.
Niki Chatburn was displaying consistency, finished in the medals with a bronze
in the 9 & 10 years 100m IM.
The Men's open 4 x 50 m freestyle
event was the finale with Skipton fielding two teams in the final. It was young
versus old with a team of Skipton's masters, still with illusions of speed over
50m, taking on the youngsters. The message was clear at the end of the course,
that age is not conducive to speed, with the youngsters leaving the masters
trailing, the youngsters finishing a close second to Bingley, whilst the masters
still managed a creditable fourth. The Skipton performance squad now look forward
to achieving qualifying times for District and National events in their target
meet at Wolverhampton in early December, whilst the club members should be putting
in some preparation for the club gala on the 16th December.