This meet holds very special memories for both Susan and myself so it was with immense pleasure that we were able to compete at this gala. Ian Prentice used to be headcoach of Faulhouse Penguins and sadly passed away a few years ago, way before his time, and was a great coach and personal friend to both of us.We promised him that if we could attend the Faudhouse gala we would and am so glad we did.
I arrived at the Coluseum at 8 am sharp and proceeded toward the catacombs(changing rooms) forgetting that when in Rome the fierce heat just saps all of your energy.
Our adoring fans who had bartered a lot of sheep and cattle at the Roman market obtained front row seats in the first tier of the auditorium and were excited at the thought of the battles ahead. In the stifling heat the thought of sending our battle hardened team in for a warm up was preying on my mind. In particular all five of the combatants had been running around daft before the start of festivities honing their fighting skills. The five gladiators were magnificent and performed brilliantly throughout the mornings events .At one point I did want to shout to the opposition in the upper tier “ Are you not entertained!”
The Romans being clever architects had flooded the basement of the Colluseum with water so that the fighting could take place as a swimming event and our five combatants all produced personal bests to the delight of the crowd. Typical of the romans each lane was a straight road consisting of equal lengths six in total (missing trees at either side of course). The main highlight of the mornings entertainment sanctioned by the scenat was a chariots of fire relay race to the death (well to the winning post).
Despite the five members of the team being shackled in chains attached to the poolside the enthusiasm to compete was so great that the chains melted (probably due to the heat) and they were more than ready to do battle. The event involved four members of each team covering one circuit of the arena. The four scorpions smashed the opposition barbarian hoards whose chariot wheels fell off on the last circuit and landed in the car park narrowly missing the front end of my chariot.
After throwing red petals into the water to the annoyance of the organizers the crowds all gave a thumbs up and started to disperse for a well earned feast. Well those that had not been carted off with heat exhaustion. Supporters of all teams wore a vast array of brightly coloured togas and the most striking headgear of the competitors was the black hats with a vicious scorpion logo on the side. There is no truth in the rumour that this team was sponsored by Ceasar himself. The gladiators ate heartily before combat however when Darcy was asked if she had eaten some haribo eggs replied “ett two brutus” lol. Due to the five gladiators performing so well they have gained their freedom but only till the next training session.
Before detailing the various highlights A special mention goes to a new gladiator in the team Cambelle Shand who was competing for the first time on 50 breastroke and 50 free and did brilliantly so well done indeed especially as she has only been with us a short period of time. Now to the details of the fighting team.
Ellie Watt
Kirsty Sievwright
Dacrcy Curtis
Emma Thomson
Cambelle Shand
Ellie took the 50 back and 200 free club record for 9 year olds
Darcey took 15 seconds off her swims in total and set a new personal best on 200 free
Kirsty and Emma both took 6 seconds off their swims and set new personal bests for 200 free
Ellie. Took 9 seconds in total off her swims and set a new 200 free style personal best.
Cambelle two personal bests on her 50 breaststroke and free swims
The relay consisting of Darcy Kirsty Emma and Ellie set a new team club record.
Can I just say that in the thirty odd years of coaching swimming I have only really been reduced to tears of joy once before this meet when coaching a relay team to an outstanding east district record. At this meet seeing the girls doing 200 freestyle for the first time and that relay at the end brought back some vivid memories and was quite emotional for me and I am sure the parents as well.
I would like to personally thank the Colliseum (Fauldhouse Penguins) and all officials some of whom were threatened with being fed to the lions (only joking) for a successfully run meet. Bearing in mind that results were pinned to the Colluseum walls by elaborate parchment and arrived by messenger who had ridden a horse for four days from the far flung distant corner of the Roman Empire.
I am now being dragged away for a lie down in Elysium with a bunch of grapes,some red wine and a chicken leg. I now have a meeting with the privy council, the scenat and the people of Rome to discuss how to defeat Attila the Hun and the Persian Empire. Actually I just need a gallon of water lol.
Film report by Maximus Desimus Merrilius
Commander of the Armies of the North and leader of the Felix legions
Loyal servant to the true emporer Marcus Orrilieus
on my command unleash hell (swim fast lol)
Colin Galbraith (posing as a better looking Russell Crow)
head coach
Scorpion Swim Team