Day 1 – a day to remember!
With nerves running high due to the apprehension of the new World Aquatics rules, the team started the day with the Technical Solo event and our 3 Salford representatives received some fantastic scores with Aimee Lawrence 2nd, Sophie Rowney 4th (3rd Junior) and Sophie Flemming 8th (6th Junior).
The next event was the introduction of the new Acrobatic Routine and our Salford team swam their Baseball routine absolutely amazing scoring 98.6100 – less than 1.5 points behind the gold medal – and with only 1 basemark.
Following this, club history was made in the Technical Duet event. “Team Sophie” swam their Fire and Ice routine and the crowd erupted when their score was announced…148.4567 to take the GOLD MEDAL! The clubs first ever gold medal at National Championships!
After nearly 12 hours on poolside at the Harvey Hadden, our Free team were drawn to swim last. Tiredness was kicking in but the swimmers held their nerve and swam their hearts out. The score was the last of the day and a huge score of 144.6358 (No Hybrid Basemarks) meant Salford finished as NATIONAL FREE TEAM CHAMPIONS!
Day 2 – history made
In morning session, Aimee, Sophie and Sophie competed the Free solo event and all 3 of them swam their hearts out!
Salford then had another big wait for the Technical Team.
The Salford swimmers were absolutely pumped for the final event of the Championships – this score would be added to our Free team score from Day 1 for the overall Redwood Trophy. And while they sat 10 points ahead of the rest of the field, under the new rules, anything could happen!
“From the minute Team Salford stepped onto the podium they brought absolute sass!”
Swimming their new “Supermodel” routine, it was the best they had ever done and the scores went up – ‘no base marks!’ They were the first and currently only team at National Championships with a “Basemark-free” swim! An absolute testament to how hard the swimmers have worked and drilled the new rules. The tech score of 146.0683 added to our Free team score from day 1 meant that Salford were awarded the prestigious Redwood Trophy! The first time the club has won this trophy – a bit like winning the Premier League of Artistic Swimming!
Added to this, our swimmer Sophie Flemming was awarded the Holland Trophy for the highest overall score across all events and all competitors!
A big thank you to everyone who helped make this dream possible.
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