Wycombe host classic (From Bucks Free Press)

Wycombe host classic

MORE than 300 competitors from 40 clubs took part in Wycombe District Swimming Club's 14th AXA Equity Class Open Long Course Meet.

But as organisers celebrated the success of this year's event, the hunt will soon be on for new sponsors for next year's gala.

Last weekend's event marked the end of a long association with sponsors AXA Equity & Law. This was the last year the company, who are due to move out of Wycombe, sponsored the event.

Leatherhead won the Wilkinson Sword top team award at the weekend gala, followed by Northampton and Birmingham's Camphill Edwardians.

The top female swimmer award went to Welsh international Suzanne Flook, while GB International breaststroker and freestyle sprinter, Matthew Kidd took the male version as Leatherhead enjoyed a winning double.

In the open competition the home club had 12 A finalists and 13 B finalists.

Eighteen-year-old Lindsey McFarlane was Wycombe's most successful swimmer who with bronze in the 50m and 100m freestyle events and a fourth in the 200m medley, led the way.

Another notable performance came from Jerome Brumby who took bronze in the 100m freestyle and fourth place in the 50m freestyle.

Richard Townsend, in his first year, just missed out on a medal with fourths in the 100m and 200m freestyle events while Lucy Morris also missed out making the A final in all three breaststroke races and gained a fourth place in the 50m.

In the B finals Wycombe had a winner in Daniel Bennett in the 50m breaststroke. He also took bronze in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.

Other bronzes went to David Vine and Stacey North.

Kyle Putnam, competing a year out of age, finished fourth in the 11/12 years 100m backstroke and fifth in the 100m freestyle.

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