Bay clinch promotion

Swimming

Herne Bay SC won the Kent Junior League, Division 2 title to earn promotion after a thrilling gala at Margate on Saturday.

Bay went into the gala in third, one point behind joint-leaders Shepway A and Greenwich Royals with only two promotion places available.

HBSC started as they meant to go on finishing in the top two places in the first seven events of the six club final to lead proceedings from the start.

Shepway A and Greenwich fought all the way and at one point Shepway A took the lead. However, by the final few events, Bay were in charge and finished top with 215 points, six clear of Shepway with Greenwich adrift in third Captains Tilly Compton and Charley Langford with the trophy. Right, Division 2 champions Herne Bay

with 191. It was the first time Bay have won the title since 2000 and team captains Tilly Compton and Charley Langford were presented with the trophy by the referee.

There were wins for 13-yearold Nathan William in the 100m IM and breaststroke; Langford, 13, in the 100m butterfly and backstroke, 12-year-old Oliver Edwards in the 100m freestyle, Scarlett Langford, 11, in the 50m

freestyle and 10-year-olds Bella Holt and Evie Slater in the 50m breaststroke and backstroke respectively.

The relay teams also took first place in the 13-year-old boys’ medley and freestyle events, the 12-year-old boys’ medley relay and the 11-year-old Girls freestyle relay.

Teams, boys: Charley Langford (c), Nathan Williams, Lewis Douglas, 13, Oliver Edwards, Ethan Sales, Emmett Holdsworth, 12, Max Fordyce, Freddie Evans, Joe Hayle, 11, James Page, Luke Hayward, Chet Holdswoth, 10, Marcus Crossman, 9.

Girls: Tilly Compton (c), Hana Allen, Amy Coupe, 13, Rose Douglas-sutton, Ella Kimble, 12, Scarlett Langford, Keira Twyman, Isabel Atkins, 11, Evie Slater, Bella Holt, Keira Baker, 10, Alyssa Kelly, 9.