News

Swimmers from Edinburgh’s Warrender Baths Club are celebrating this week after winning the Top Club trophy at the Scottish East District Championships for the ninth consecutive year. The result, which concluded in Glenrothes last weekend (1-2 March 2008), means Warrender are still the only club to win the acclaimed Solripe Trophy in the 21st Century!

The competition brings together the best swimmers in the East District region of Scottish Swimming and as such includes clubs from the Borders, the Lothians, and Fife. Winning one point per medal in the chase for the overall title, the victory this year was even more emphatic than previously. Warrender established a lead early in the competition and by the final reckoning the lead over Carnegie in second place had grown to a massive 58 points.

Great results were produced by swimmers throughout all the different age groups and are literally too many to mention to do justice to everyone who contributed to the success. However, particular recognition goes to Ross Woolley (Boys 14/15 years), Rosie Hood (Girls 16/over), and Lewis Smith (Boys 16/over) who were all crowned the top girl / boy in their respective categories. In addition, the club showed their strength in depth by winning 18 of the possible 48 relay medals available to all clubs on the final weekend.

Warrender Head Coach Ian Wright commented on the success, “We knew we were favourites for the title but the manner of our victory has exceeded expectations. As well as the continued success of the established names, this year we had many swimmers break through to medal success for the first time at this level. Our developing swimmers are making incredible progress and I must praise the rest of the coaching team for the great job they are doing. The team atmosphere we generated throughout the championships was fantastic and we were thrilled at the way the success brought our swimmers together as a team full of support for each other”.

The Warrender squad returned to heavy training this week in preparation for the forthcoming British Olympic Trials at the end of March and the Scottish Age Group Championships in mid-April.