‘FIRST’ OPEN AGE GROUP MEET, GRANGEMOUTH & CARLISLE OPEN MASTERS MEETS

It was another busy, great weekend of racing for squads from REN96 - Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire’s largest swimming club - starting at the ‘FIRST’ Open Age Group Meet in Grangemouth. After a slower start, the whole team of over 40 swimmers stepped up to end the meet as 3rd top club behind Glasgow and Stirling swimming clubs - a hard won and well deserved outcome for REN96. 

 

REN96’s young squad picked up 18 gold medals, 14 silver medals and 11 bronze medals as well as finishing in the top 6 in 41 events and setting many personal best (PB) times.

 

The whole squad swam very well but special mentions go to Murray, who after a difficult first event stepped up on every event after that, and to Charlotte, who swam PBs in every race she had.  The comeback-swimmer-of-the-weekend award went to Abigail, who had a tough day on Saturday but turned it all round in her Sunday events, including setting a fantastic 35 second PB on her 100m butterfly.

 

From a coach’s perspective, it was great to see swimmers stepping up to race, not dwelling on any previous races and not focussing on winning medals or setting PBs but instead doing their best by giving 100% in each race. 

 

Special thanks to coaches Heather, Calum and Adam, who coached all weekend, and to the squad of Team Managers who did a fantastic job supporting the coaches and swimmers, making sure that swimmers were in the right place at the right time!  REN96 is very fortunate to have such a willing, effective volunteer army, without who the squads would not be able to compete as they do.

 

At the same time, but a bit further south, Jen from REN96’s Masters squad competed at the Carlisle Aquatics Open Masters Short Course Meet and brought back a fantastic 3 medals - congratulations to Jen!

 

Allan Kelly for Ren96