HSPC Diddy Squad
HSPC sent a Diddy Squad to compete in a "B" (equv. Level 4) gala at Enfield Pool, home of our hosts for the evening the Enfield Griffins. Team captains were Ria Melvin and John Reynolds.
A very exciting evening was had in this pleasant, modern pool, where spectators sit right on poolside - close enough to "feel" the action (indeed waterproofs would have been handy for the front row!).
This was a "time banded" competition. In other words, rather than qualifying entry times, places were limited to those swimmers who had not yet achieved a set maximum time limit in competition. However all teams acquitted themselves superbly with approx. a third of all swimmers effectively disqualified for "speeding".
Poolside results (we hope to get as many individual times for you soon) show that HPSC won many of the individual events. Ironically these wins normally earned maximum penalty points for speeding. As the evening progressed it became something of an achievement to be DQd.
However, the relay events were not time limited and it was in these swims that all teams really worked together and excelled. Again HSPC took many firsts. Undoubtedly the most memorable of these was the final mixed 8x1 25m, in which one boy and one girl from each age group competed. This really had the audience on their feet. HSPC took this race by a hair's breadth after Adam Dunkley (having already swam half a dozen races) made up some 5 metres in the final length to whoops of applause.
The Ben Williams Trophy was awarded to Hoddesdon, who came first with 135 penalty points, 2nd were Enfield Griffins with 141, followed by HPSC with 159 and Anaconda with 166.
Parents and coach were proud to see a young Diddy Squad working together as a team.