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Swimmers retain Speedo title

22/12/2005

CITY of Salford swimmers have cause for celebration after winning the Speedo League North West Final for the fourth successive year.

They equalled the record four-year winning streak set by the City of Liverpool side in 1997.

And they will now represent the north west in the Speedo National League Final, which will be held in Sheffield in April, 2006.

Salford's swimmers won 12 of the 58 events to edge out City of Liverpool in the north west final, which contained the eight leading teams from preliminary round leagues.

Joe Gannon, aged 21, triumphed in the open age 200 metres individual medley and 100m breaststroke.

And Salford's other individual gold medal winners at the Manchester Aquatic Centre were James Doolan, under-15s 100m butterfly, Jessica Twigg, under-15s 100m freestyle, Luke Wood, under-15s 100m backstroke, Alice Shaw, under-13s 50m backstroke, and Emily Cross, under-11s 50m butterfly.

Amanda Nugent, Katrina Alder, Lee Holland, Neil Bates, Chris Winstone, Emily Bates, Luke Wood and James Doolan secured individual runners-up spots.

And Salford enjoyed relay wins in the boys' and girls' under-15s freestyle and medley races plus the open men's medley event.

Head coach John Stout said: "Special mentions must go to Katrina Alder, our junior international who performed so bravely after being very ill for several days, and to Lee Holland, our professional assistant coach who rolled back the years to produce a great swim in his 100 metres backstroke event."