Diss Otters made the long trip to Kings Lynn on Saturday evening to take part in the first round of this year’s Fenland Senior League open to children aged nine right through to adults.
Ten clubs took part in the gala – five at Kings Lynn and five at Mildenhall with the two venues swimming simultaneously and points for each event awarded based on times achieved by the ten competing teams.
Diss had some extremely testing opposition with West Norfolk running away from the rest of the field at Kings Lynn returning a total of 36 wins from 47 races.
Although the Otters finished fifth in the Kings Lynn event they returned a score better than three of the clubs at the Mildenhall gala to finish a creditable seventh place overall.
It has to be said that the Otters team performed amazingly well in the circumstances, as due to unavailability several of the girls had to swim up an age group, which made a tough task even tougher but the whole team, girls and boys put in the effort to get some good times and results.
After all of the points from the two galas had been collated the Otters are seeded second for the “B” final to be held in September.
The Diss Otters squad were Sam Neal, Isaac Bachu, Matthew Tatum, Cameron Day, Matthew Munnings, Harry Button, Callum Blair, Barney Clarke, Ottilie Miller, Lauren Taylor, Lottie Gates, Maddie Wood, Thea Irvine, Luella Brookes, Millie Bachu and Kathryn Wood.
Thanks to head coach Jamie Rush who was poolside, and to the clubs officials and swimmers parents for their help and encouragement.
Final scores were – West Norfolk 406, March 299, Chatteris 282, Thetford 281, Wisbech 278, Ely 260, Diss 243, Bottisham 222, First Strokes 172, Mildenhall 123.