Lanark ASC enjoyed another successful Meet when their swimmers won 10 District titles, 12 silver and one bronze medal at the recent West District Championships at Cumbernauld.

In the sixteen years and over age group Ross McCafferty continued his recent run of success when he won the 100m backstroke in a spectacular time of 57.68 seconds, a new Club Record. He also won the 200m IM in a Club Record of 2.09.18 and was second in both the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle. Jack McComish followed Ross home in second place in the 200m IM and was second in the 100m breaststroke, third in the 100m freestyle and sixth in the 100m backstroke.

Morven McNab (15) was first equal in the 100m breaststroke and in the same age group Maya Andrew won silver in the 100m backstroke and 200m IM and was third in the 100m butterfly and fourth in the 100m freestyle. Fourteen year old Cameron Watkins claimed the 100m freestyle title and was second in the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and IM.

In the thirteen year old age group Scottish Schools Champion Billy Davies struck gold again in the 100m breaststroke. Robyn Patrick won a silver in the 100m breaststroke and was sixth in the 200m IM. The 10/12 year old young guns also played their part with Euan McComish winning the 100m butterfly,100m backstroke, 100m freestyle and 200m IM. He also finished fifth in the 100m breaststroke. Alastair Gourlay was second to Euan in the 100m backstroke. Katie McIntyre broke 1.20 for the first time to win the 10/12 years girls 100m breaststroke. She finished sixth in the 200m IM.

There was a West District debut for Finlay Patrick in the 100m breaststroke. Personal best times were posted by Callum Rintoul, Craig McCulloch, Katie Donald, Alyson Henderson Lorna Gemmell and Sarah Richardson.

A delighted coach Karen Kelly said "It was an extremely good weekend for Lanark. Ten swimmers secured top three finishes for the Club in one West District weekend, a great achievement. Ross once again led the charge with a truly outstanding 100m backstroke swim and a good number of the swimmers achieved National qualifying times for the Scottish Age Group Championships at the end of March."

SCOTTISH SCHOOLS TITLE FOR BILLY

Eleven Lanark ASC swimmers represented their respective schools at the Scottish Schools Swimming Championships held at the Dolan Aqua Centre, East Kilbride.

Lanark Grammar's Billy Davies won the 13/14 boys 200m breaststroke title in a time of 2.48.09. Cameron Watkins (Biggar High) set a new Club Record of 55.54 seconds to take second spot in the 15/16 boys 100m freestyle. Carluke High's Katie McIntyre won silver in the 13/14 girls 100m breaststroke and there was a bronze for Jack McComish in the 17/19 boys 200m breaststroke. Maya Andrew broke her own Club record in the 100m backstroke (1.11.42).

Full results:-

Lanark Grammar

Maya Andrew                       15/16              6^th 100m backstroke                 9^th 200m backstroke

Robyn Patrick                      13/14              4^th 200m breaststroke              8^th 100m breaststroke

Billy Davies                           13/14              1^st 200m breaststroke              4^th 100m breaststroke

Alastair Gourlay                    13/14              8^th 100m backstroke

Euan McComish                    13/14              7^th 200m IM                             8^th 100m butterfly

Carluke High

Katie McIntyre                     13/14               2^nd 100m breaststroke            6^th 200m breaststroke

Biggar High    

Cameron Watkins                 15/16              2^nd 100m free                          4^th 200m IM

Robert Owen Memorial Primary

Katie Donald                        12u                  7^th 50m breaststroke

Dalziel High

Jack McComish                    17/19              3^rd 200m breaststroke            6^th 100m breaststroke

High School of Glasgow

Morven McNab                     15/16              5^th 200m breaststroke            6^th 100m breaststroke

Ailsa McNab                         17/19              6^th 200m freestyle

After the long three session Meet a delighted coach Karen Kelly said "The Lanark swimmers were a credit to their Schools. In the afternoon session we hit a purple patch winning gold, silver and bronze in the breaststroke events. Then in the evening there was a fine silver medal for Cameron in the 100m freestyle. Four of the swimmers were at the bottom end of their age groups and did well to qualify for this Meet. Next weekend we are back in a short course for the West District Championships at Cumbernauld."

Thirteen Lanark swimmers competed in the first ever West District Grand Prix held at the 50m pool in the Dolan Centre in East Kilbride. The meet attracted 57 Clubs from the length and breadth of Scotland.

In the mens events Ross McCafferty was 4^th in the 100m backstroke (1.01.53). He reached two "b" finals finishing second in both the 50m and 200m backstroke. Jack McComish qualified for three "b" finals where he was first in the 200m breaststroke, 4^th in the 200m I.M and sixth in the 100m freestyle. Lanark had two swimmers in the "b" final of the 50m breaststroke with Victoria Gourlay finishing 5^th and 12 year old Katie McIntyre sixth.

The busiest swimmer for Lanark over the two day competition was fourteen year old Cameron Watkins who swam in both the mens and fourteen years and under boys sections. Cameron set a new West District Age Group Record in the 50m butterfly with a splendid time of 28.38 seconds. He finished third in the "b" final and fifth in 50m freestyle "b" final event. In the age group events Cameron won three silver medals in the 200m IM, 200m freestyle and 100m freestyle, all in personal best times. Maya Andrew set a new Club Record in the 50m backstroke of 33.80 seconds.

After the Meet Karen Kelly said " It was a long drawn out weekend for the swimmers but the Grand Prix was an ideal chance for the swimmers of school age to compete in a long course pool before the Scottish Schools Championships at the end of January at the same venue."