Southport on crest of a wave
THE Southport Swimming Club junior team have retained the ECHO Cup for a recordbreaking 13th consecutive year, with much improved Halton finishing in runners-up spot and Everton in third.
The event, which is noted as one of the noisiest on the local swimming calendar, attracted around 500 spectators and more than 250 swimmers, aged between nine and 12 who crammed into Everton Park Sports Centre.
There are two preliminary rounds to the competition, with the top eight facing each other in the final.
Speaking after the victory, Southport team coach, Mark Patrickson, said: “We dominated the gala from the opening race to the last.
“The first eight races are all relays and Southport won six.
“In the 32 individual events there were some superb individual performances, Sam Ellis (Ormskirk), Ruby Hughes and Sofie Jones (both Southport) each won two races.
“It was obvious that we didn’t want to relinquish our grip on the ECHO Cup”.
As usual the competition concluded with the prestigious Cannon Trophy.
In this event the fastest boy and girl swimmers in each age group swim in a 25m freestyle relay.
With the crowd on their feet, and almost taking the roof off, Halton took an early lead with Southport clawing their way back into contention before eventually winning the trophy.
Final result: 1. Southport 319; 2. Halton 246; 3. Everton 236; 4. Ormskirk 227; 5. Prescot 186; 6. Crosby 185; 7. Liverpool Penguin 177; 8. Hoylake 171.