SWIMMING
http://www.soldiermagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2019 75ALL SQUARE: THE OTHER FIXTURE IN THE COMPETITION SAW
THE FRENCH SERVICEMEN PLAY OUT A 2-2 DRAW WITH THEIR
DUTCH RIVALSPOOL PERFORMERS HIT NEW PEAK
T
HE next generation of
swimming talent came
to the fore as the Army
produced a stunning display in
the pool to dominate the 2019
Inter-Services Championships.
A resurgent Reds squad won
five of the seven titles on offer
in the water polo, diving and
swimming disciplines to claim
the overall honours for the first
time in recent history.
Newcomer Pte Katie Laybourn
(RLC) enjoyed a debut to
remember as she claimed gold
in the 200 metres front crawl and
100 metres butterfly – an effort
that helped the Army women
maintain their status as the
dominant team at Forces level.
Spr Jack Tremain (RE) was
another fresh face to shine as he
claimed silver medals in the 100
and 200 metres backstroke.
And 2Lt Lawrence Oxborough
(AGC (RMP)) clocked a time of
1min 56.46sec to win the 200
metres freestyle and complete
another successful showing from
the novice competitors.
While their individual effortswere impressive the men’s team
fell agonisingly short in the
final standings, as they trailed
eventual champions the Royal
Navy by just three points.
“We see second place as
a massive win,” head coach
Garry Mitchell, a former warrant
officer in the Royal Electrical
and Mechanical Engineers, told
SoldierSport. “In the past the
Army have just been there to
make up the numbers.
“If we can get the same team
out next year we can really take
them on.”
The competition also saw the
Army celebrate a famous double
in the water polo.
The men’s squad lifted the
trophy after a narrow 6-5 win over
the Royal Air Force, but there
were goals galore in the women’s
final as the soldiers thrashed the
same opposition 16-7.
However, it proved to be a day
of mixed fortunes in the diving
as the women reigned supreme,
while a depleted men’s team
suffered in comparison to the
strength of their rivals. ■VICTORY at this season’s Inter-
Services Water Polo, Diving and
Swimming Championships was
aided by some inspired scouting
of young soldiers passing through
AFC Harrogate.
Civilian instructor Joe Daniel
recommended the talents of Pte
Katie Laybourn (RLC) and Spr
Jack Tremain (RE) and both went
on to deliver for the Army on the
big stage.
“Jack is only a 17-year-old
lad,” explained head coach Garry
Mitchell. “It was the equivalent of
a primary school pupil lining up
alongside university swimmers.
“But he finished second to Capt
Marcus Roberts (Scots) in both the
100 and 200 metres backstroke.
“We have discovered a great
swimmer in Katie Laybourn. She
was up against an experienced
Army rival, LCpl Kat Green (Int
Corps), in the butterfly.
“Kat set a huge personal best
but it was not enough to get the
win. Katie took the title by 0.4sec –
it was really impressive to watch.
“We are now running a talent
identification programme at
Harrogate and there might be a
few more to come through.”EMERGING TALENT
"WE SEE
SECOND
PLACE
AS A
MASSIVE
WIN"
75-sol-aug.indd 1 25/07/2019 14:23