16 Mar 2008 - DCA Mini Gala 2008 Report

DCA 2nd Annual Mini Gala report

 

This gala was held on Sunday 16 March 2008 at The Olympia Leisure Centre, and what a successful gala it was for our 8, 9, 10 & 11 year old young swimmers with 27 DCA swimmers competing in 100 swims, achieving a massive 74 Personal Best times.

 

 

Molly Redford set 2 new records - in the 50m Backstroke event Molly broke the record, set in 1995, in the heats (34.90) and again in the final (34.45).  She also broke the 50m Freestyle record, which was set in 1997, in a time of 29.99, the first time she has gone under 30 seconds.

 

 

We achieved the following medals and places -

 

1^st place & Gold Medals       9                      4^th place awards       6

 

2^nd place & Silver Medals    4                      5^th place awards       7

 

3^rd place & Bronze Medals  7                      6^th place awards       2

 

 

The relays were very exciting, and noisy!  In the morning session our 2 teams of girls were in Heat 1, with our A team gaining 1^st place.  It was an exciting and apprehensive time watching Heat 2 waiting to see what times these teams achieved.  With about 8 meters to go to the end of the race, the clocked ticked past DCA’s time of 2.22.41 and our girls were jumping for joy at achieving 1^st place.

 

 

In the afternoon session, the boy’s relays were just as exciting – our B team competed in Heat 1, all swimming very well.  Heat 2 was very close and competitive, but again our boys swam out of their skins and gained 1^st place in a time of 2.24.02.

 

 

At the end of the exciting day, and all the presentations, the Best Boy & Girl awards were announced with the following DCA swimmers winning -

 

Best Boy – 8/9 years – Scott Goadby, 10 years Christopher Cameron

 

Best Girl – 11 years – Molly Redford.

 

 

The final award for the day was then announced – Best Club – Dundee City Aquatics!  What a fantastic end to the gala! 

 

 

The swimmers were a real credit to the club – their behaviour, attitude and effort all fantastic. 

 

Many of these young swimmers were competing for the first time for DCA, or even in their first big gala. After a long, tiring day the swimmers, and coaches, headed for home with big smiles on their faces!

 

 

Congratulations, and well done to all the swimmers who competed and thanks to Drew and John for their efficient work and help poolside with the swimmers.

 

Gillian Burnett, Junior Coach

 

Click here for DCA swimmers results at this gala

 

Thanks should also go to the small group of older swimmers who gave up their day to help with marshalling / handing out water etc. to officials. Without their help the gala would not have run as smoothly as it did. Hope the 11 year olds this year who will be too old for this gala next year will be the first to volunteer their help when needed next year.

 

Last but not least, thanks to all the parents who helped out too. Some had children swimming, others did not but door duties / marshalling / Officials are all still required and they did their club proud.

Anyone wishing to volunteer their help for any future occasion should contact any committee member or coach.

 

Iain Meldrum, Gala Convenor