The prestigious National Arena Swimming League kicked off for 2022 on Saturday 8th October. The league was finally back to it’s former self after the COVID-effected 2021 edition saw some teams, including West Norfolk Swimming Club, compete remotely from their home pools.
West Norfolk found themselves travelling the University of East Anglia UEA SportsPark for their opening fixture in the East Midlands Premier Division; with the evening’s opposition coming in the form of both the City of Norwich’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams; Waveney; Dereham and Norwich Swan Swimming Club.
The evening got off to a strong start in the opening 200 Metre Individual Medley events, with Sarah O’Brien taking a third place finish in Women’s race before Nathan Wells came home first in the Men’s.
In the following relays there was a third place finish for the mixed 15 years and under team of Thomas Garnett; Nathan Yeaman; Elyn Lauder and Erin Woodrow in the 4×50 Meter Freestyle, followed by a second place in the Open Age Group 4x50M Medley courtesy of Wells; O’Brien; Joe Wells and Molly Lee.
In the following fifteen races, Ruby Baxter; Eloise Collins; Joshua Jones; Woodrow; Nathan Yeaman; Joe Wells; Samuel Liddell and Rhys Burrell all secured further top three finishes before Nathan Wells bagged a second individual victory in the Men’s 100 Metre Backstroke.
Afterwards, Jamie Wilson; Garnett; O’Brien; Freddie Laws; Polly Anderson and Pemberley Hornigold added their names to West Norfolk’s growing list of top three finishes before the evening moved into its closing stages with the final relay races for each age group.
In the 11 years and under Mixed 4 x 50M Medley, Anderson; Baxter; Liddell and Toby Turner found themselves just popped at the post by Waveney as they came home in fourth place.
The 15 years and under Mixed 4x50M Freestyle squad of Chloe Bellamy; Burrell; Woodrow and Garnett went one better to take third place before the final race of the evening saw Laws; Lee; O’Brien and Nathan Wells provided a strong finish with a second place in the Open Age Group 4x50M Freestyle.
West Norfolk Head Coach Sarah Vanderloo was full of praise for her swimmers, commending a “Brilliant team performance which saw personal best across almost all of our individual swims in the 11 and under; 13 and under and 15 and under age groups”.
The league’s second round takes place on Saturday 12th November.
Final standings – East Midlands Premier Division – Norwich
UEA City of Norwich – 230 points
Norwich Swan – 190 points
West Norfolk – 150 points
UEA City of Norwich ‘B’ – 149 points
Waveney – 90 points
Dereham – 69 points
