Leicester Penguins Swimming Club

Well our diddies are off and running again,Saturday 12th April saw the start of the diddy leagues with our Silver team competing at Leamington Spa against some known strong teams. But Karen Betts and Nigel Kube conspired to cause their down fall.We ran out winners by 39 points,with a special well done to Brandon Priestly. pb`s from George Cooper,Saffron Betts,Laura Tailor,Brandon Priestly,Laura Powell,Alison Wainscott,Emily Warren Ballard and Jack Warren Ballard.and excellent performances from our 9 year olds formed the back bone to a great result. Not to be out done our White Team equally shone in a closer encounter at Braunstone. Richard Smiths team ran out winners by 8 points,this gala showed to me that its not all about coming first but coming 2nd instead of 3rd, or fourth instead of fifth, we actually only won 5 events but still won the gala,we have a great strength in depth and character as all our swimmers displaid on Saturday, a special well done to Joe Halfpenny stepping in to swim the Fly.this is what Penguins do.show courage. Congratulations to Gareth Keating winnig selection to the British Team for the European Junior Championships in Belgrade in July. I am sure all Penguins will wish him luck. Go to Leicester Mercury web site to add a comment about Gareths achievement. Steve Lay

A big well done to all concerned at the gala on Saturday at Hinckley especialy to Richard Stock who once again performed miracles to put out such strong teams. I think i can speak for all the poolside staff that the behaviour of our swimmers was exceptional and the coments from the balcony was we looked great as a team in our new kit. I also know that we made a big impact on the other clubs who attended but that was our intention anyway. we now go forward to the finals and best of luck to the Silver and Black teams and White team will have a difficult gala but i know they will rise to the task. Well done again PENGUINS Steve

I would like to thank the membership of our club for the vote confidence at the EGM on Wednesday 23.01.08. A new page in our grand history is about to be writen.I will endeavour to continue our supremecy at the top of swimming in Leicester and dare i say beyond. could i ask would you send me an email to stevealay@hotmail.co.uk with your name and the swimmers name and a mobile tele number so i can capture your info. i intend to keep in touch weekly. Regards Steve Lay

What a week, arriving at Demontfort Hall Leicester Mercury awards,expectation level not sure. But when the doors openend to the dining hall the emotion washed over me "WE HAVE GOT TO WIN" all through the evening as our time got closer the more aprehensive i became. Then it was our turn, the nominations duly read out,all comendable in there way,but there could only be one winner and that was us, the noise from the balcony and around our table was deafening,Lisa and Greg looking absolutly fantastic rose to the aclaim and accepted the trophy on behalf of all our members. A night i shall not easily forget. Steve Lay

Congratulations to all the diddy team members,Our White team whilst finishing 6th in a tight gala, that is the best position this team has achieved and remember they were against all other clubs top teams. And our Silver team had what can only be called a gargantuan gala against very stiff oposition and only in the final stages were we able to relax a little nowing all we needed was no disqualifications in the last two events to win the gala. The Silver team will now go forward into the finals later on this year in second position again this is the highest position achieved by us. Once again you guys have made me proud to be a Penguin. Steve Lay Head Coach

Well what a weekend. our diddies over performed masively. Just to put it into perspective. This time last year in the Leicester league our White team would have finished 4th or 5th well this year we finshed 2nd leaving other clubs A teams in there wake. And our Silver team finishing 1st in a gala were it was felt third might be a good result. i cannot remember the last time any team beat Coventry A, well we did that and beat Nuneaton and Bedworth as well. This is not the end, or the begining of the end,but is the end of the begining.(i think i have heard that before somewhere )? We must continue our resolve in the coming league galas. we want both our teams in there respective finals. Well done to all who took part. Steve Lay

This is a big weekend for us all, The White team have comfortably cemented there place in next years First Division, the Silver Team i am sure will flex ther swimming muscle and take the title we all deserve, and the Black Team will scrap it out, and i am certain will prevail. All exiting Galas. Good luck to you all. Happy and noisy swimming. Steve

I would like to congratulate all three teams for the excellent results at both Hinckley and Market Harborough.In the Leicester Leagues. We now have one more hurdle to jump on March 4th in the last round with the Silver team and the Black team going for top honours in the first and second divisions respectivly and the White team in a mid table clash in the first division. We are so close to achieving our goal we set at the begining of the season, and that is to win the First division title, keep the White team in the top division and have the Black team join them after gaining promotion. To all swimmers make sure you are prepared for March the 4th. To achieve this goal will be a tremendous achievement so which ever Team you are selected for BE READY you will still have a big job to do. GOODLUCK

All three teams had tough galas in last weeks league programme but once again our apponents found us to much of a handfull.The last round finds all three teams seperated for the first time with the White team having the most difficult job in the intermediate gala whilst the Black team will be in the relagation gala"of which i fancy us to do very well" leaving the Silver team to be in the top gala and if i were a betting man i would put my shirt on winning. Good luck to all teams The age groups are upon us. BE PREPARD check when and what time you are swimming and which POOL. Happy swimming Steve

On the first weekend of the Leicestershire County Age Groups all the Penguins followers in there supporters T shirts whitnessed a truly magnificent performance from all our swimmers. individually there were some brilliant times being swam The effort and endeavour in each event was breathtaking. For all of you who swam on Sunday at Braunstone you can be proud of your performance your individual contribution was fantastic.