Buntingford hope their top three bid goes swimmingly

BUNTINGFORD Swimming Club are aiming for a top three finish at the end of their debut season in the Hertfordshire Major League, buoyed by a first gala win in nearly three years. Annabel Shaw, Robyn Wilson, Iona Hayes, pictured, Gemma Carr, Matt Coote and

BUNTINGFORD Swimming Club are aiming for a top three finish at the end of their debut season in the Hertfordshire Major League, buoyed by a first gala win in nearly three years.

Annabel Shaw, Robyn Wilson, Iona Hayes, pictured, Gemma Carr, Matt Coote and Dan Peddar scored individual wins as Buntingford finished first in their latest outing at a novice gala in Ware.

Head coach Alan Bowell says the victory has given Bungtingford's youngsters a huge confidence injection as they prepare for the final round of division three of the Major League later this month.

Buntingford are sure of finishing in the top six of the third division after finishing second in rounds one and two earlier this winter.

Bowell is confident that his squad can secure third spot then launch a push for promotion to division two in 2008: "It's the first year we've been in the Major League and they've exceed all my expections," he said. "The top two spots are out of our reach but I think we can finish third. Next year we should be pushing for promotion."

Royston, with four 2007 county championship qualifiers in their ranks, aim to chase Buntingford to the wire after finishing just behind their local rivals in the opening rounds.

- Brother and sister Alex and Hannah Raine performed an impressive double act at the Bedfordshire County Swimming Championships at Biggleswade on Saturday.

Hannah, 16, claimed second place in the girls' 200 metre butterfly. Alex, 13, went one better by winning the boys' event.

Earlier in the championships Alex had also claimed a 1,500 metre crown.

The youngsters live in Bassingbourn but swim for Biggleswade and the Biggeleswade-based Mid Beds Swim Squad.