History Part 10 (1993-1995)

LINKS: FOREWORD, 1, ORNAMENTAL SWIMMING, PROGRAMS, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, NEWS

1993

Jennifer Fairhust and Martin Barrett competed at the National Age Group Championships. Leanne Stafford, Michelle King, Stephanie Shaw, Nicola Crosbie, Samantha Berry, Phillip Stout, Jonathan Stafford, Paul Cowburn and Michael Cowburn swam for other clubs in this competition.

At the Welsh National Age Group Swimming Championships Leanne Stafford achieved gold medals in the 200 m and 100 m backstroke, silver medal in the 400 m IM and fourth in the 200 m IM.

At the Welsh Open Championships (short course) Leanne Stafford gained silver in the under 16s 200 m backstroke, two fourth places and one fifth place narrowly missing out on selection for the Welsh youth squad and Jonathan Stafford gained gold at the under 13s 200 m backstroke, four silver medals and one fourth place.

Martin Barrett, Stephanie Shaw and Philip Stout were selected for an ASA Development squad which was sponsored by Mycill.

Philip Stout represented Division 7 in English Schools Championships. Philip also represented Lancashire in a Northern Counties Inter-county competition and from this was selected to represent Northern Counties.

Leanne Stafford and Jennifer Fairhurst represented Lancashire in the Anita Lonsborough Trophy.

Leanne Stafford, Jennifer Fairhurst, Michelle King, Stephanie Shaw, Debbie Taylor, Samantha Berry, Jonathan Stafford, Philip Stout, Martin Barrett, Andrew Rigby and Christopher Osbourne represented Central Lancashire at the Inter-Association Competition.

Tyldesley won the Central Lancs KO cup and the 12 year girls won the overall trophy at the Central Lancashire Warburton galas.

Dominic Speakman and Chris Graham were selected for the Great Britain Junior Water Polo squad.

Melanie Fairhurst as a member of Stretford ASC was selected for the England Ladies Under 20’s Water Polo squad and along with her sister Jennifer, for the Northern Counties Under 20’s Ladies Water Polo squad.

D Bailey, Martin Barrett, Robert Bond, Michael Cowburn, Paul Cowburn, Matthew Cutt, Philip Stout, Andrew Rigby, Jonathan Stafford and Greg Stott were selected for the Central Lancashire Under 16’s Water Polo Team and Martin Barrett and Greg Stott for the Northern Counties Under 16’s Water Polo Training squad.

The Senior Water Polo Team finished third in the National League Division 2 but lost in the play-offs for promotion to National League Division 1. The team also finished 4^th in the Northern League and won the Northern Counties Senior KO.

1993 Manchester & District U14s Tournament Winners

For the second year running the U14’s Water Polo team won the Mike Glover Shield in the Manchester and District Water Polo Tournament and also competed at Cardiff in their U14’s Tournament.

1994

Because of the increasing success of swimmers and water polo players gaining representative honours for their country, it was decided to install a new updated Honours Board at Tyldesley Baths. The Committee also decided that club captains would receive commemorative plaques at the end of their term.

Martin Barrett was selected for Great Britain Catholic Schools to swim in Spain.

In the National Age Groups in Coventry Jennifer Fairhurst came third in the 200 m butterfly and Philip Stout came 5^th in the 200 m butterfly. Stephanie Shaw and Martin Barrett also competed. From the Nationals Philip Stout was selected to attend the National “Mycil” 2000 Squad and Martin Barratt was selected to attend the “Mycil” District Development Squad.

At the Welsh Closed Age Groups in Cardiff Jonathan Stafford was third in the 200 m backstroke.

At the Welsh Closed Senior Nationals Leanne Stafford was Junior Champion at 100 m backstroke, 200 m breaststroke and 100 m breaststroke and at the Open Welsh Nationals was Junior Champion in the 100 m backstroke. For these excellent swims Leanne was selected for the Welsh Senior National Squad No. 4.

Leanne and Jonathan Stafford along with Andrew Rigby were selected for District Seven in the English Schools Championships.

Philip Stout was captain of the Lancashire team at the Anita Lonsborough Trophy and Melanie Fairhurst was appointed as chaperone for the team.

In the Lancashire Age Groups Leanne Stafford, Jennifer Fairhurst and Philip Stout each won two gold medals.

Michaela Carmen, Debbie Taylor, Stephanie Shaw, Michelle Todd, Leanne Stafford, Andrew Hurst, Simon Crowe, Robert Bond, Jonathan Stafford, Philip Stout and Andrew Rigby represented Central Lancashire in the Inter-association Competition. Jennifer Fairhurst and Martin Barrett were the Central Lancashire captains. Michelle King was the Bolton and District girl’s captain.

At the Central Lancashire Age Groups Philip Stout won six gold; Jennifer Fairhurst won two gold; Leanne Stafford, won two gold and Andrew Rigby won one gold.

Tyldesley Swimming Club won the Central Lancashire Age Group Knock-out.

The record set by Duncan Cleworth, twenty one years previously, for the Under 15’s 100 metres freestyle was broken by Philip Stout at the Club Gala.

Tom Pritchard, Water Polo Secretary for a length of time, was appointed to referee the ASA Clubs Water Polo Finals, which is quite an honour in the water polo world.

Melanie Fairhurst as a member of Stretford ASC represented England Ladies Under 20’s Water Polo team in a match against Scotland at Drumchapel and was then selected to the full England squad and took part in a Five Nation Tournament at Market Drayton, Shropshire against teams from USA, Scotland, Holland and Ireland.

Stephen Davidson was selected to swim and play water polo for Great Britain Police verses Holland and Germany.

The Senior Team reached the quarter finals of the ASA Water Polo Knock-out.

Martin Barrett, Paul Cowburn and Gregg Stott were selected for the Northern Counties Under 16s Water Polo team against a South African touring side.

Simon Thomason and Andrew Rigby were selected for the Northern Counties Under 16’s Water Polo training squad for 1995.

Martin Barrett, Paul Cowburn, Gregg Stott and Philip Stout were selected for the Lancashire U18s Water Polo team.

Seven players were selected for the Manchester and District Water Polo team.

In the Manchester and District Shield Tyldesley Swimming Club’s Under 14’s Water Polo team record read: played twelve won twelve.

1995

1995 National Age Group Medalists

Jennifer Fairhurst (1992) and Phillip Stout (1995)

Increasing success meant a new trophy cabinet was installed at Tyldesley baths, large enough to contain the ever growing number of cups and shields.

The Festival Gala was re-named the Ernest Chadwick Invitation Gala and a presentation evening was introduced into the club calendar.

Philip Stout won the gold medal at the National Age Groups Championships in the 15 year old boys 200 metres butterfly and was 4^th in the 100 m butterfly, Jennifer Fairhurst was 4^th in the 200 m butterfly and Leanne Stafford was 6^th in the 100 m backstroke.

In the Welsh Age Groups Leanne Stafford won gold medals in the 100 m backstroke, 200 m backstroke, 100 m breaststroke and 200 m breaststroke and was rewarded by being selected for the Welsh National Squad.

Philip Stout and Jennifer Fairhurst represented Lancashire County and at the Inter-County Competition and Melanie Fairhurst was the team manager.

Jonathan Stafford, Andrew Rigby, Michelle Todd, Stuart Carlisle, Andrew Hurst, Kate Ward and Philip Stout represented Central Lancashire in the Inter-Association Competition. Philip Stout was team captain.

In the Central Lancashire Age Groups Philip Stout won five gold; Jonathan Stafford, two gold, Jennifer Fairhurst, one gold; Nicola Jones, one gold; Khalid Jhugroo, one gold; Stephen Riley, one gold and Michelle Todd, one gold.

Melanie Fairhurst competed in Holland for the England Ladies Under Twenties Water Polo team.

Martin Barrett and Philip Stout were selected for the England Junior Water Polo training squad.

Gregg Stott and Dominic Speakman were selected for the Northern Counties U20’s team.

Paul Cowburn, Philip Stout, Martin Barratt, Andrew Rigby and Simon Thomason were selected for the Northern Counties U16’s water Polo team.

Andrew Rigby, Philip Stout, Matthew Cutt, Jonathan Stafford and Michael Cowburn were selected for the Northern Counties U16’s Water Polo training squad for 1996.

Philip Stout, Greg Stott, Martin Barratt and Paul Cowburn were selected for the Lancashire County Under 18’s Water Polo team.

Gregg Stott, Simon Thomason, Martin Barratt, Philip Stout, Andrew Rigby and Paul Cowburn were selected for the Manchester & District U19’s Water Polo team.

The Senior Water Polo Team won the Northern Counties Grade 2 Water Polo competition.

The U16s water polo team began their campaign in the ASA Club Boys, beating Stretford and Bolton School to qualify for a place in the semi-final against King’s School, Grantham. After an arduous journey during which the coach broke down twice and the team arrived half an hour late, Tyldesley were defeated by a stronger and more physical side, who went on to win the ASA title.

In the Northern Counties Water Polo League the U16’s team were undefeated all season with one match left to play against Bolton School who were also undefeated. After a nail biting match, the team proved to be the best on the day beating Bolton School and taking the title for the first time. The team also won the Northern League Tournament for the first time.

The U15’s water polo team entered the newly formed Central Lancashire League and went on to win all ten games and the title. The team also won the Central Lancashire Tournament again undefeated.

The U14’s water polo team won the Manchester & District Tournament for the third year in a row and also finished a credible second to Bolton School in the Fred Moorhouse Memorial Cup in a ten team competition.

Much of the success of the younger water polo teams at Tyldesley Swimming Club during this period can be attributed to several people, but mainly to Tyldesley Swimming Club’s “First Lady of Water Polo” Mavis Bent.

Through her efforts the club found itself with such strength in depth, it surely would not be long before the club were in the First Division of the National League. (In fact this prophecy came true in 1998 when Tyldesley were the National League Division 2 Champions and were promoted to Division 1).