Plymouth Leander have won the club title at the 39th National Speedo Swimming League Cup Final for the first time in the club’s history.

The club finished top of the country’s 10 leading teams in the Speedo League with a score of 399 giving them a 35 point cushion over second placed Millfield School (364) and Team Ipswich Swimming took were third with 284 points.

Plymouth Leander, who finished runners up to Stockport Metro last year and were second to Millfield in 2005, also dominated the Relay Challenge by winning nine of the events and achieving a combined relays time that was over 37seconds faster than closest rivals Millfield.

There was also individual success for Plymouth swimmers Callum Murphy, who won the 13 and under Most Improved Boy, and Achieng Ajulu-Bushell, winner of the 13 and under most improved girl.

For Plymouth Head Coach Jon Rudd the Speedo League title is something the club is proud to have won after coming so close over recent years.

“We are all delighted,” said Rudd. “It’s not the focus of the club but it’s nice to finally win the event after coming so close, so often.

“It’s the FA Cup of swimming, you compete against quality clubs within the region and then progress to the national final where the challenge is very intense.

“It’s given our swimmers a great experience specifically in the relays where they faced a great deal of pressure but performed very well.”

Hatfield’s Adam Brown won the title of top male swimmer at the Ponds Forge meet in Sheffield with City of Liverpool’s Fran Halsall picking up the female award.

Alex Simmons (Lincoln Vulcans) won the 11 and under most improved boy award, James Burden (City of Coventry) the 15 and under title, Katy Rushmoor (Millfield) won the 11 and under most improved girl and Rachael Solway (Guildford City) the 15 and under award.

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For further details contact Dave Richards, ASA Media Manager, on 01509 632237, 0778 992 6136 or email dave.richards@swimming.org

The Amateur Swimming Association is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

About Speedo®
Synonymous with swimwear, the iconic brand celebrates 80 years of dominance creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations.  In the 1920s Speedo® made history with the Racerback: the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008 Speedo® redefines swimwear again with Fastskin® LZR RACER®  - the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuit ever created; meanwhile designer collaborations with Comme des Garçons put Speedo® at the cutting edge of design. As the world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, supporting swimming from beginners through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps.  Speedo® is owned by Pentland Brands and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; to find out more visit: www.speedo.com. SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

Jemma Lowe regained the 200m Butterfly short course British Record at the Middlesbrough Open this weekend.

The Borough of Stockton swimmer recorded a time of 2:04.01 knocking 1.08secs off team-mate Jess Dickons' record set at the recent World Championships in Manchester. 

Prior to Jess holding the record, the previous standard had been set by Jemma at the Middlsbrough meet in 2007.

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For further details contact Dave Richards, British Swimming Media Manager, on 01509 632237, 0778 992 6136 or email dave.richards@swimming.org

British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain.  It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (Amateur Swimming Association), Scotland (Scottish Amateur Swimming Association) and Wales. (Welsh Amateur Swimming Association)  British Swimming seeks to enable its athletes to achieve gold medal success at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games. 

About Speedo®
Synonymous with swimwear, the iconic brand celebrates 80 years of dominance creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations.  In the 1920s Speedo® made history with the Racerback: the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008 Speedo® redefines swimwear again with Fastskin® LZR RACER®  - the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuit ever created; meanwhile designer collaborations with Comme des Garçons put Speedo® at the cutting edge of design. As the world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, supporting swimming from beginners through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps.  Speedo® is owned by Pentland Brands and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; to find out more visit: www.speedo.com. SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.