East Kilbride News

East Kilbride lift the Mary Black trophy

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East Kilbride Swim Team are West District Champions for the fourth time running, lifting the Mary Black Cup at a ceremony in Glasgow.

With several format changes to the competitio­n over the year, it was at times tough for the club to balance training commitment­s with competitio­n readiness over the six rounds, which started in January.

The Dollan was the venue for three of the long course rounds, and whilst it is always good to compete on home turf, the mixing of age groups meant that weekend training time was compromise­d on all three occasions.

It was strong team performanc­es and gritty determinat­ion that turned things around for the club by the sixth and final round in Cumbernaul­d, taking their final total to 1744 points - just 47 less than last year.

The margin of victory, however, was tighter than last year, 291 points as opposed to 465, and the next generation of swimmers will have to work hard to keep their exalted status as the team to beat next year.

EK head coach Andy Figgins was once again pleased with the club’s performanc­e, highlighti­ng the work ethic, team spirit and individual resilience fostered by the club as the

key ingredient for its success.

He told the News: “Our swimmers produced a strong end to the season and even without some of our class of 2016, we produced a number of great performanc­es across the age groups.”

The club was presented with the Mary Black Cup at the West District AGM in Glasgow.

Coach Derek McGown was on hand to collect the trophy and was also honoured for the incredible developmen­t work he has done for both the club and the wider Scottish Swimming community by being appointed West District Vice Chairman, becoming the youngest ever holder of the office.

The club’s most senior swimming technical official, referee Jean King, was also appointed STO Convenor for the West District.

Scottish National Youth squad member Nikki Miller collected the James Wallace Memorial Trophy for best Junior Female swimmer in the West of Scotland after a series of outstandin­g performanc­es, underlinin­g her increasing status as one of the country’s best young swimmers.

Finally, capping another vintage year for the club was the appointmen­t of Andy Figgins to the board of Scottish Swimming.

Having worked in swimming developmen­t at South Lanarkshir­e Leisure for almost 20 years, he has worked tirelessly developing the full potential and increased participat­ion of swimmers, athletes, coaches, teachers, officials and volunteers at all levels across a number of high-profile roles.

 ??  ?? Four-in-a-row Youngsters from EK Swim Team proudly show off the Mary Black Cup
Four-in-a-row Youngsters from EK Swim Team proudly show off the Mary Black Cup

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