Pool Pioneers swim to historic mini title (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Pool Pioneers swim to historic mini title

6:54pm Tuesday 9th October 2007 in

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IT'S been a season to remember for everyone associated with Pioneer 79 Swimming Club.

For the club have gained promotion to Division One of the North West Micro League, crowned NE Lancashire Friendly League champions and won the Bolton and District Mini League for the first time in its 30 year history The Pioneer swimmers took part in their first final of the year in the Bolton and District Mini League competition which was for 12 and under age swimmers. The club had progressed through to the A' final after emphatic victories in all three of the preliminaries earlier in the year.

The swimmers swam magnificently and pulled off a famous victory, in winning the trophy for the first time in the club's history.

Pioneer swimmers won 14 races out of a possible 30, but four disqualifications left the victory in the balance until the last race, which the boys won comfortably to seal victory over nearest rivals Bolton by two points.

Head Coach Lee Stringfellow said: "This is a superb victory, and I am very proud of our younger swimmers who swam with courage and conviction.

"To get disqualified four times and still win is unbelievable and it shows just how talented our swimmers are. We can look forward to similar victories in this league, and not have to wait 30 years again hopefully."

In the Micro League, Pioneer won the B Division to progress through to a football style play-off' involving the bottom two of the A Division and the top two of the B Division.

In the swim-off, Pioneer originally finished in first place but, due to a using a youngster who was too young, the club was deducted points and finished in second place - still good enough to gain promotion.

The club was also crowned NED Lancashire Friendly League Division One champions and now the older swimmers have their turn to shine in the Speedo event leading up to Christmas where the club is hoping to produce the goods and gain promotion to the Premier' league against large city squads.

The club has also held its au revoir' disco, a social night to honour all the members who have reached 18 years of age and are off to university or moving into the world of work.

On the same evening, club chairman Steve Makin presented a gift to Sarah Shackleton who was reappointed ladies captain for 2007/8.

The club has also launched the new Pioneer 79 Swimmers Logbook, a diary for all training group members to record their times, PBs, competition performance and weekly training mileage.