The National arena Swimming League – Finals Weekend – Cardiff 5th & 6th March 2022
After a forced hiatus in 2021 due to the covid pandemic, the finals of the National arena Swimming League returned to the Cardiff International Pool on the 5th & 6th March. With the return of this popular club competition came all the colour, noise, atmosphere and excitement . From the face paints, fancy dress, and banners to the music, air-horns and chants it was great to see that this fun filled competition once again cover all ages & experience in the 42 event competition. It was great to be back!
Saturday 5th March- B Final
Saturday saw an extremely close and exciting B-Final with Basildon Phoenix coming out on top lifting the title by just 10 points from home club City of Cardiff .
The lead changed many times throughout the 42 events but the Essex based club came through at the end with solid performances across all the age groups. This is a double cause for celebration for Basildon as they were also successful in winning the National arena Junior Swimming League in September 2021.
Basildon head coach Doug Campbell was delighted with his teams’ results especially as this is the clubs first ever appearance in the National Finals .Doug commented “ this is a great result for the club who have made steady progress through the London Region Divisions over the past 5 years . We finished runner-up in the London League Premier Final in December and today all the swimmers stepped up, whether in a relay or individual event, it was a superb team performance.” Doug has previously won the A-Final when he was head coach of Millfield so todays was a step towards winning again with a different team.
Club Chairman, Tom Baster, was delighted with the club and commented “ The club has been on an extraordinary journey since the Basildon Sporting Village 50m pool opened in 2011 and today I am extremely proud of the swimmers, coaches & parents . I would like to thank Basildon Council and Basildon Sporting Village for their support and arena UK and Solo Sports for their sponsorship of this great club competition.”
The stand out performance at the meet came from Swansea’s Medi Harris with her 60.35 in the womens 100m back continuing her recent good form.GB Olympians Dan Jervis ( 200 IM 2.05.51 ) and Harriet Jones ( 100 Fly 60.26) both had comfortable wins.
It’s also about the support at this meet and the award for the top supporters was awarded to Basildon Pheonix who kept the cheers & chanting going through the afternoon . The top relay club competition was also won by Basildon Phoenix
Basildon Phoenix – Top Relay Winners
B Final Results –
Top Age Group Swimmers
- 11/12 Years – Alexandra Numey (Camden) Jacob Bacon (Basildon),
- 13/14 Years – Aran Bissett (RTW Monson) Mabil Collyier (Swansea),
- 15/16 Years – Davey Unwin (Stockport) Skye Carter (Basildon)
- Top Male: Bradley Newman (City of Cardiff) and Top Female: Medi Harris (Swansea Aquatics)
Bradley Newman & Medi Harris
Final Points:
- 1-Basildon Phoenix 259points
- 2-City of Cardiff 249
- 3-Camden Swiss Cottage 238
- 4-Stockport Metro 206
- 5-RTW Monson 200
- 6-City of Norwich 192
- 7-Swansea Aquatics 190
- 8-City of Peterborough 185
- 9-LeamingtonSpa 167
Full Results for B Final can be found here https://results.swimming.org/swimming/results/2022/naslb/
More images can be found here https://www.nationalswimmingleague.org.uk/2022-league-finals/ or here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tvy869y4n13ozak/AADxrSwRRu-U7bYhBg9l3lmba?dl=0
Sunday 6th March – Cup Final
Mount Kelly, representing the Western League Division, won the 52nd Cup Final of the National arena Swimming League on Sunday 6th March in Cardiff. After a forced hiatus in 2021 due to the covid pandemic, the Devon based boarding school retained the title that they won in 2020.
Mount Kelly were convincing winners, taking top spot with 359 points from runners-up Millfield (320) with Wycombe & District rounding out the top three places with 266. Mount Kelly’s strength showed all the way through with top 3 places in 33 of the 42 events, they also won the relay challenge trophy.
Emma Collings-Barnes, director of swimming at Mount Kelly, commented “this win today has given a great buzz for everyone on the team especially after all the issues around covid and the lack of racing for so long. I would like to thank all the staff at the school for their support especially over the last few years and a special mention to my assistant director of Swimming, Greg King-Lamb who has run this programme whilst I have been on maternity leave. This competition is so special to win as it involves so many great swimmers & clubs from across the country. Today has been a great sign that swimming for all levels and age groups is back in this country . Thanks to the National League organisers and arena UK for putting together a superb event today and running the League rounds through the year.”
Cup Final Results –
Top Age Group Swimmers
- 11/12 Years – Ben Macdougall (Wycombe) Ella Humpries (Guildford)
- 13/14 Years – Abduljabar Adama (Mt. Kelly) Alice Young (Guildford)
- 15/16 Years – Conor Cherrington (Millfield) Hollie Widdows (Mt. Kelly)
- Top Male: Cameron Brooker ( Wycombe) and Top Female: Aimee Canny
Final Points:
- 1-Mount Kelly….359points
- 2-Millfield ….320
- 3-Wycombe & District ….266
- 4-Guildford City …. 261
- 5-Plymouth Leander …. 257
- 6-Bromley …. 210
- 7-Hatfield …. 195
- 8-Wigan BEST …. 151
- 9-Leicester Sharks …. 147
- 10-City of Cambridge …. 142
Full Results for Cup Final can be found here https://results.swimming.org/swimming/results/2022/nasla/result1.pdf
More images can be found here https://www.nationalswimmingleague.org.uk/2022-league-finals/ or here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tvy869y4n13ozak/AADxrSwRRu-U7bYhBg9l3lmba?dl=0
All in all a great weekend was had by all with some great results, it was great to be to a live event.
