WATFORD SWIMMING CLUB made a pleasing start to this year's Speedo League, finishing a close third out of six teams in the first round gala.

Swimming against Acton, Brent, Chelsea and Kensington, Potters Bar and Colchester, 15-year-old Hayley Duncan got the team off to the perfect start in the opening event, the ladies' open 200 metres individual medley, which she won in 2.46.55.

Duncan was in tremendous form throughout the evening. She swam in two further individual races, the under 16 100 metres butterfly and freestyle, and won them both, with times of 1.17.34 and 1.09.09 respectively.

Young Stacey Rafferty looks to be a real star of the future. She powered down the pool to take the girls' under 12 50 metres freestyle in a fast 34.23; while Sarah Willer was pleased with a new personal best of 1.07.21, which was good enough to win the ladies' open 100 metres freestyle.

For the boys, Mark Cuthbert won the under 14 100 metres freestyle, again in a new best of 1.07.95. He went on to team up with Glen White, Nick Ginty and Luke Rogers to record another success in the freestyle team event.

The under 16 team of Adam Collins, Matt Ginty, Marc Gooding and Ben Dollard were in double winning form, taking both their realy events in great style. The medley race was particularly impressive, with Gooding pulling back a near half length deficit in the final leg.

Gooding and Dollard also took second places in their individual races, and were part of the victorious 6x50 metres open freestly team in the final event.

October 17, 2001 19:43