Double victory at loch race
Rutherglen ASC braved the cold waters as they hit top form this summer.
After months of solid training a third of the club were in good shape for the Scottish Open Water Championships on August 13.
With Sophie Bestwick having to withdraw through injury, it was Ethan Horn who started off the day in the 5km swim at Loch Venachar.
With the water temperature at 15.6°C, a strong headwind and extremely large waves for a loch, he was forced to withdraw after 3km, well ahead of many much older swimmers.
After lunch the course was amended for safety and the weather conditions and attention turned to the novice 1km, where Caolan Millard won gold in the boys 13+ age group, one second ahead of Lukas Black in silver, a Rutherglen one-two.
It was a very tight affair in the girls 12 years 1km championship and Maisie Stewart and Elise Fawcett placed fifth and sixth respectively in a time almost identical to the boys.
In the boys 13-14 2km it was 13-year-old Johann Fawcett who took gold by nearly two minutes in a field of 15 swimmers.
In fact, that performance put him sixth in the open category, won by the Dean brothers and James Leitch.
In the women’s 13-14 age group Louise Bradley took the silver by a clear margin and Amy McGhee narrowly missed out in fourth in a gutsy swim.
The relay races immediately followed the ladies 2km swim.
At the last minute the A team had to withdraw as a swimmer was too cold to continue safely. However, the B team of Caolan Millard, Lukas Black, Maisie Stewart and Elise Fawcett continued.
Although by far the least experienced swimmers in the whole event, they finished third overall, not far behind the second place team.
At the Wishaw Games the following day Mikey Hobbs was the club’s only competitor in his first major gala.
He came first in the 50m freestyle, first in the 50m breaststroke and fourth in the 50m backstroke. Mikey has now been selected to go to Rugby for a national event.
Virtually the whole available squad went to Kilmarnock for an interclub meet against the home town, Stranraer and Dunoon.
Rutherglen swimmers won over half the events with many second and thirds to win the Kilmarnock Centenary Trophy.
There were some tremendous displays from members who achieved many personal bests.
Lindsay Young, the Rutherglen head coach, said: “We have been invited many times by Kilmarnock and, although we have come close and with some great swimmers, we have never had a team result like this with such a resounding win.
“Both Kilmarnock and Stranraer have some cracking swimmers but our depth shone through and we were still without four or five key swimmers.”
The club thanked Lynne Hobbs for her patience at Wishaw during a long day and all the parents who helped at Kilmarnock.
Sophie Bestwick organised the spare lane swimmers and relays at Kilmarnock.
Rutherglen ASC meet Tuesdays at 6pm at South Lanarkshire Lifestyles Eastfield.
They can be contacted through their website or Facebook page.