When all of the results from the five regional rounds were collated, Yorkshire beat last year’s winners Warwickshire into second place, and Sussex in third, but it was Bedfordshire who finished in a very creditable 11^th place out of the 29 Counties who took part, and improvement of seven places on 2013, and a five place improvement on the County’s previous best position, a 16^th in 2012.

This year we had 18 top ten finishers, with two outright winners, Lawrence Palmer (Putteridge) in the 18+ 50 Breaststroke, and Liz Woolner (Flitwick Dolphins) in the 45+ 50 Butterfly. Liz also finished in second place in the 50 Freestyle, and a third place finish in the 50 Backstroke. Other swimmers who finished in the top five in their events were Sarah Pearse (South Beds Masters) third in the 25+ 50 Breaststroke, Carla King (South Beds Masters)third in the 25+ 50 Freestyle, Marcel Scholten (Modernians) fourth 45+ 50 Breaststroke, and Graham Powell (Team Luton) fourth 55+ 50 Backstroke.

But it was in the relays where Bedfordshire improved so much this year. In 2013 we only had one team in the top ten, this year we had thirteen!! Although we did not have any top three finishers, we had three teams that picked up fourth places and they were, the Mens 100+ 200 Freestyle Relay team of Henry Marshall (South Beds Masters), Doug Kerr (Biggleswade), Lawrence Palmer (Putteridge), and Richard Lewindon (South Beds Masters). The Ladies team in the 100+ 200 Medley Relay of Clare Grundy (Putteridge), Sarah Pearse (South Beds Masters), Lucy Gregory (Leighton Buzzard), and Carla King (South Beds Masters). And finally the 72+ 200 Freestyle team of Sam Parry (Dunstable) Lawrence Palmer, Lewis King and Jordan Batson all Putteridge.

The final points result is as follows. Well done to Yorkshire

Report by John Bellis.