The first Competition of 2025 was held at the Michael Woods Centre and produced some very encouraging statistics for Fins’ swimmers. A total of 42 Fins’ swimmers competed in 79 individual swims plus four relays. 31 swimmers competed in the Fife League and 11 in the Novice League producing a total of 65 PBs, 82% improvement rate, plus there was a 1.68 second 50m freestyle PB for Jack Campbell in the 1st leg of the 4x50m freestyle relay.
In the League the 57 swims produced 10 – 1st placings; 10 – 2nd; 10 – 3rd; and 26 finishes in the top 10, and there were 5 changes to the Fins’ all time top 50 rankings with the top two performances coming from Ben Lewis, 15 and over males, whose 1st placed 50m butterfly with a 0.13 second PB keeps him in 16th place. Ben missed out on another 1st place by just 0.05 seconds, but a 0.27 second PB moves him from 26tth t0 23rd
The highest new entry to the rankings was achieved by Lilian Blair, 13/14 years female, who reduced her200m breaststroke by 9.62 seconds and enters the rankings in 26th place., which, in turn, means that we lose Jacqui Rafferty, who set her time at Whitburn in April 1989. Lilian, won the 100m freestyle with a 1.62 second PB and made another entry into the rankings, this time in 45th place and displaces Kirstin Scott who set her time at Carnegie in May 1989.
Top achiever is Millie Whytock, 8 t0 12 females, who was the only swimmer to record two wins with an 11.10 second PB in the 200m individual medley, and a 5.87 second PB in the 100m freestyle.
Millie was almost joined by Ethan Pate, 13/14 males, who won the 200m butterfly, but just missed out on the 200m individual by 0.02 seconds.
Caleb Gray, 13/14 males, won the 200m backstroke with an 8.83second PB, and was 4th in the 50m freestyle.
Jack Campbell, 13/14 males won the 50m butterfly, and was 4th in the100m freestyle. Jack was swimming in the wrong half of the two year age band.
Two other winners were Bryony Smart, 8 to 12 years females, and Leyton Neilson, 8 to 12 males. Bryony won the 50m freestyle with Leyton winning the 50m Backstroke. Both swimmers also had a 5th place finish, Bryony in the 50m butterfly recording an 8.56 second PB, and Leyton in the 100m Freestyle with a 7.49 second PB
The final winner was Elliot Blair, 8 to 12 males, in the 100m freestyle, Elliot will still be in the same age group next year.
Eva Watson, 13/14 females, achieved two 2nd placings in the 50m breaststroke and 200m freestyle.
Eden Mackie, 13/14 females, and Finnley McDonald, 15/O males both achieved a 2nd and a 3rd placing, Eden was 2nd in the 50m freestyle and 3rd in the 50m breaststroke, while Finnley was 2nd in the 50m backstroke and 3rd in the 100m freestyle.
Steven Pate, 15/O males, was the remaining swimmer to make an impact on the Fins’ rankings when he moved from 49th to 48th in the 50m freestyle with 0.36 second PB, finishing in 5th place. Steven was also 2nd in the 100m breaststroke.
Charlie Jack, 8 to 12 years male, also had 2nd and 5th placings, with a 2nd in the 50m backstroke and 5th in the 100m breaststroke.
The remaining 2nd spot was achieved by Grace Mills, 8 to 12 females, who was 2nd in the 100m butterfly.
One swimmer achieved two third placings and that was Jennifer Gordon, 15/O females who was 3rd in both the 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle.
Four swimmers achieved a 3rd and 4th placing, namely –
Chelsea Walker, 8 to 12 years, 3rd – 100m breaststroke and 4th – 50m backstroke.
Cole Gray, 13/14, 3rd – 100m freestyle and 4th – 200m individual medley.
Irys Blair, 15/O, 3rd – 200m backstroke and 4th – 100m backstroke, and
Kimberley McCabe, 15/O, 3rd – 100m breaststroke and 4th – 50m backstroke.
A further two swimmers achieved a 3rd placing and their second swims both resulted in 8th. They were Summer Ramshaw, 13/14, 3rd – 50m backstroke, and 8th – 100m freestyle, and Harvey Whytock, 15/O, 3rd – 100m butterfly, and 8th – 100m freestyle.
The remaining results from the Fife League were:
Alexandra Waz, 13/14, 5th – 100m breaststroke; 6th – 50m backstroke
Sadie Paton, 13/14, 6th – 100m backstroke; 7th – 50m freestyle
Lacey Donald, 15/O, 6th – 50m backstroke, 7th – 100m freestyle
Wiktor Bak, 15/O, 6th – 100m breaststroke, 9th – 50m freestyle
Lily Bonnar, 13/14, 9th in both the 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle
Abby Morris, 15/O, 9th – 50m breaststroke; 11th – 50m butterfly
Olivia Bak, 8 to 12, 9th – 50m freestyle
Olivia Hathaway, 13/14, 9th – 100m breaststroke
Kaja Debska, 13/14, 9th – 50m butterfly.
In the 4 x 50m Mixed freestyle relay teams, two teams finished in 2nd place. The 8 to 12 years team of Elliot, Leyton, Grace, and Millie; and the 13/14 years team of Ethan, Caleb, Eva, and Lilian
The 15/O team of Steven, Jennifer, Irys, and Finnley were 4th, while a second 13/14 years team of Jack, Cole, Eden, and Sadie were 7th.
There was also an impressive start for the Novice swimmers with nine of the eleven swimmers competing in their first ever competition with the 22 swims producing 3 wins, 6 – 2nd placings, 2 – 3rd and a further 8 top 10 finishes.
The top achievement by a Fins’ swimmer came from Lily-Mae McDonald, 8 to 10 years girls, who won the 100m freestyle. Lily-Mae had competed in the event previously but on this occasion produced a good solid 10.00 second PB. She also gained a 2nd placing in the 50m backstroke.
The two other winners were both first time competitors and were Ava-Liana Drummond, 8 to 10 years girls, who won the 25m freestyle and was 4th in the 25m breaststroke; and Grace Pereira, 11 to 13 girls, who won the 25, backstroke and was 9th in the 50m freestyle.
Ollie McLafferty, 11 to 13 boys, was 2nd in the 25m backstroke and 3rd in the 50m freestyle.
Aiden Smart, 11 to 13 boys, 2rnd in the 25m breaststroke and 9th in the 59m backstroke.
Cain Gray, 8 to 10 boys, 2nd in the 25m backstroke, and 10th in the 50m breaststroke.
Keavie Morrison, 8 to 10 girls, 2nd in the 25m backstroke and 12th in the 50m freestyle.
Izzy Crawford, 11 to 13 girls, 2nd in the 25m backstroke and 13th in the 50m breaststroke.
Roland Leeuwenberg, 11 to 13 boys, 3rd in the 25m backstroke and 4th 50m breaststroke.
Eilidh Needham, 11/13 girls, 6th in the 50m freestyle and 8th in the 50m backstroke, and
Harry McLafferty, 8 to 10 boys, 6th in the 25m backstroke, and 13th in the 50m freestyle.
Ken White
Club Press Officer.