Corsham Amateur Swimming Club

 Saturday's final round of the Division 2 Wiltshire Summer League left just one point separating the top three teams. Corsham and Swindon Dolphins tied for first place, just pipping Bradford on Avon, who had lead for most of the evening. Salisbury, who had made up some lost ground in Round three, finished fourth. The final Division 2 placings saw Swindon Dolphins as comfortable winners, with Bradford on Avon 2nd, Corsham 3rd and Salisbury 4th.  

This was always going to be a tough gala for Corsham, the aim being to gain sufficient points to retain a place in Division 2. On the night, however, it quickly became obvious that an outright win was a possibility. The win in the first race by Matthew Crofton set the tone and gave the team a much needed boost. From then on, the results rolled in. Michael Edmundson came from behind to clinch a storming win in the 100 metres butterfly and sealed this with another win in the 100 metres backstroke. Not to be outdone, the under 14 boys, Jamie Butler, Nick Parks, Will Rivers and Ollie Webb were comfortable winners of the 100 metres medley relay, with Webb also winning the 50 metres freestyle. The youngest boys did not quite match their teammates in terms of outright wins, but they all did their best and were rewarded with a victory by Lawrence Meikelreid in the 50 metres backstroke.  

For once, Corsham's ladies were slightly eclipsed by the boys, with a lower number of outright victories than in earlier rounds. The Wilson sisters, Alice, Ellen and Sarah, were in prominence for most of the evening, rarely dropping below 2nd place. An injury hit Emily Hall was clearly in some discomfort on the evening and her place in the 100 metres butterfly was bravely taken by Sarah Hickman. Her reward was yet another butterfly race, this time in her own age group! Former girls Captain, Heather Knight, swam a very spirited Open 100 butterfly and then supported teammates Lyndsey McRae, Jenny Westaway and Sarah Wilson to a finger tip victory in the 100 medley relay. Amy McRae completed a stunning hat trick of wins in the 50 metres breaststroke. Amongst Corsham's youngest girls, Melissa Birkett and Hannah Mortimer both had some good swims and look destined for a bright future with the Club. 

Corsham's star on the night, and indeed for the whole of the Summer league, was Jamie Butler. A member of the Bath University squad, Jamie has won just about every race he has entered, including those where he has swum up an age group category. His wins on Saturday included the 50 and 100 metres backstroke, the 50 metres butterfly and anchor leg of the 100 metres freestyle relay. He was an inspiration to his younger team mates.