Thurso swimmers return victorious from Orkney
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THURSO Amateur Swimming Club made a successful return to Orkney to retain the West Mainland Chamber of Commerce Trophy which they won after a close-fought competition last year.
Thurso’s hopes took an early knock with the withdrawal of Rona Plowman on the day of the meet due to illness. The competition was split into three age groups: 10 and under, 11-13 and 14 and over. The youngest age group swam 25 metre races and the older groups 50 metres.
The meet started well for Thurso in the youngest age group with both the girls and boys taking first and second in the fly. The four produced personal bests – Eve Nicoll 17.89 seconds; Alex Mackay 18.84; Euan Macdonald 17.63 and Mark McCoustra 17.91.
Katie Mackay won the 11-13 girl’s race with a PB of 34.28, Bryony Jack also produced a PB with 39.39. In the same age group, the Yuille brothers Craig and Scott produced another 1-2 with PBs of 31.66 and 33.13 respectively.
Ellie Spencer took first spot in the oldest age group with Emma Budge doing an extra swim to make up for Rona’s absence, coming in third. Jamie Mackinnon came a close second to Jordan Munro of Orkney by just half a second, with Shaun Davidson third.
Thurso continued to dominate the youngest age group in backstroke with all four top places achieved in PBs. Eve Nicoll – 19.21; Louise Cormack – 21:03; Dean Davidson 19.58; and Adam Bailey – 20.34.
Despite PBs, Katie Mackay and Lucy Macdonald finished behind the Orcadians in the 11-13 age group but Jordan Bain and Taylor Davidson took the top two spots. Emma Budge won the oldest age group with Ellie stepping up with her extra swim to take second. Shaun Gray won the boy’s race.
The competition then moved on to the 4x25m medley relays. Thurso continued to dominate the youngest age group with clear wins for both the boys and the girls. It was mixed fortunes in the 11-13 age group, with the Thurso boys winning.
Thurso master Debbie Macdonald stepped in to help the 14-plus age group with the backstroke lead-off leg, temporarily giving up her timekeeping duties.
the team lost out by three seconds. Even closer was the boys race won by Thurso by just a second.
In a very close breaststroke race, Orkney finally broke the Thurso stranglehold on the youngest age group, taking second in the girl’s race. Alex Mackay took first with Louise Cormack third. Mark McCoustra and Adam Bailey resumed normal service with another 1-2. Gaby Macgregor and Bryony Jack lost out again despite PBs in the 11-13 age group but Craig and Scott Yuille took first and second again. Ellie Spencer had clear water between her and the next swimmer as she took first. Emma Mackay chased hard and was rewarded with a PB.
Alix Mackay won the 25m freestyle with Alex Mackay finishing third, just 0.03s behind in second. Euan Macdonald and Dean Davidson had their own private battle to take the first two places. There was another 1-2 for Thurso for Taylor Davidson and Jordan Bain in the 11-13 age group. Emma Budge made sure of first in the oldest age group and Emma Mackay was delighted with a PB. In a very close race, Thurso’s Shaun Gray and Jordan Munro, of Orkney, both finished in 27.10 for a dead heat, with Rorie Stewart coming third.
Emma Budge swam her second extra swim of the night in the open 100m IM in which she took second behind Ellie Spencer. Shaun Gray won the boys 100m IM closely chased by Ross Manson of Orkney who in turn was closely chased home by Thurso’s Craig Yuille with the three finishing in 1:10.70, 1:11.20 and 1:11.46, Craig’s time being a PB.
In the 100m freestyle relays, the Thurso youngsters continued their good form taking first in both the girls and boys races. The 11-13 age group also swam to form, with the Thurso boys team winning. Super sub Debbie Macdonald helped the oldest age group relay who finished just two seconds behind Orkney. Even closer was the boys race with Thurso just losing out with a time of 54.35 to Orkney’s 53.78.
The final score was 227.5 to Thurso and 175.5 to Orkney so Thurso returned across the firth with the trophy.
