Knutsford swimmers setting new standards (From Knutsford Guardian)

Knutsford swimmers setting new standards

12:03pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in Sport

KNUTSFORD’S swimmers reached their highest level yet when they tested themselves against rivals from across the north west.

The Vikings competed in the first fixture of the National Arena League’s Division Two for the region at Horwich, where they placed third in the final standings.

“The standard was much higher than we’ve ever encountered,” said head coach Steve Parry.

“But the team thrived and everybody raised their game, with more swimmers than ever clocking new personal best times.”

There were individual race wins for Amy Howarth in the U13s girls’ 50m butterfly and freestyle, while Beth Simms was fastest in the 50m backstroke and breaststroke in the same age category.

Fellow Viking Phoebe Allanson won the 100m backstroke in the girls’ open class.

For the boys, John Crawford won the 100m breaststroke in the U15s race, while Adam Frost scored a hat-trick of victories – 100m breaststroke, freestyle and individual medley – in the open boys’ section.

Becky Emeny, Valerie Marshall, Flo Thwaites-Miles and Megan Thomas made up Vikings’ U15s girls’ freestyle relay quartet that was quicker than their rivals.

Knutsford finished eight points adrift of runners-up Clitheroe, while Whitehaven-based Copeland topped the overall table.

Parry added: “Every swimmer worked hard to achieve these results.”