RED ROSE SQUAD OUT FOR FOURTH COUNTY TITLE
Lancashire swimmers will be looking to retain their tight
hold over the National County Team Championships sponsored
by Topline and Wm Taylor Pools this weekend as they go for
a fourth successive title.
The red rose squad have dominated the Amateur Swimming Association
event for the past three years and will be all out to add
another chapter to their proud history on Sunday at Sheffield's
Ponds Forge.
This year the northwest county will not only be spurred on
by their record over recent times but also by the fact sponsors
Topline (Water Treatment Systems) and Wm Taylor pools will
present the winning county with a cheque for £2,000
to help fund training and development opportunities for future
medal winners.
The Championships will feature 38 teams from England, Scotland
and Wales comprising over 1,100 swimmers aged between 12 and
17.
A capacity crowd of 3,000 is expected to lend its support
to the teams who will be split between two divisions.
And it will not just be county pride that is at stake. The
top four teams from the second division will be looking for
promotion at the expense of the four teams who finish bottom
of the higher order.
Yorkshire will be out to maintain the pressure over rivals
Lancashire after finishing runners up for the past two years.
Northumberland and Durham as well as Hampshire will also offer
a real threat to title aspirations.
The championships will feature some of Britain's brightest
swimming talents with many of them having dreams of competing
at the London Olympics in 2012.
Included in the programme will be athletes from Britain's
World Championships squad from Montreal this year as well
as swimmers who competed at this summer's European Juniors
in Portugal and the European Youth Olympic Festival in Italy.
Promising youngsters include Ellen Gandy (Beckenham), Max
Partridge (City of Sheffield), Lizzie Simmonds (Lincoln Vulcans),
Gemma Spofforth (Portsmouth Northsea), Marco Loughran (Guildford
City) and many more.
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