When Andy Hunter left last year, I looked upon his and
the club's achievement's as something of a landmark, an unattainable year
of success not to be matched for a very long time. To try to match this
let alone better it, was I thought a goal beyond our reach. I was to be
proved wrong.
The school Swimming Gala was the first event on the swimming calendar. As the School House dominated the Senior Gala, Ormiston broke Netherleigh's long running success and won the Junior section for the first time ever. On the second of November, the Ulster Minor Schools' took place at the Grove Swimming Pool and for the first time in a number of years Campbell entered a team in this gala, this usually being left to Cabin Hill. Campbell swam both the Medley and Freestyle relays in the under 13 age group. In two very strongly contested races the team of David Hill, David Skipp, David O'Brien and Philip O'Brien finished fourth in both.
Three weeks later at the same venue a larger team of Junior, Intermediate and Senior boys took place in the Grammar Schools' competition. The star of the Junior individual events was David Bree who took the gold medal in the 100m Individual Medley and silver in the 50m Breaststroke. As usual the individual events were dominated by Campbell swimmers. In a very close race Neil Cameron won the 50m Freestyle by 100th of a second in a personal best time and also placed third in the 50m Butterfly behind James Hand who was second in both the 50m Butterfly and the 50m Backstroke. Andrew Bree swam well to finish second in both the 100m Individual Medley and 50m Breaststroke with Paul Anderson placed fourth in the 100m Individual Medley.
In the Senior individual events Captain Dennis Bree gained the title of 'the fastest man of the day' by swimming a personal best time and winning the 50m Freestyle. This was a well deserved win after a close race in the 50m Butterfly where he was placed second, while Marc Ruddock made the final of the 50m Backstroke. In the Relay event's Campbell finalised in all six events.
The Junior team of David Bree, David Hill, Christopher Wilson and Christopher Hand finished fourth in both the Medley and Freestyle events. As usual the Intermediate team of James Hand, Andrew Bree, Neil Cameron and Paul Anderson stole the limelight by winning both Medley and Freestyle relays in two new Ulster Schools' record's. In the Medley they shattered the old record by two seconds.
As always the very talented yet under-trained senior team of Captain Dennis Bree, Jonny McCann, Ryan Livingston and Marc Ruddock pulled it out in the short sprint finals, coming a close second to medley specialists Coleraine A.I. Revenge came in the Freestyle relay when the team took the first place by a whisker. A truly magnificent effort by the team, brought back the Intermediate and Overall Cups to Campbell.
The next hurdle in the swimming teams' calendar was the Ulster Secondary Schools' championships again at the Grove Swimming pool, on Saturday 11 January. Illness prevented a full strength team from participating. The Junior team of Christopher Hand, David and Philip O'Brien and Cabin Hill boy Richard Wilson made the finals in both the Medley and Freestyle relays. In the Intermediate section, pride of place must go to Andrew Bree who pulled out an astonishing 55 second 100m Freestyle to win the gold medal after a disappointing heat swim. He also managed a second place in the 200m Individual Medley. Neil Cameron made it a double for Campbell in the Freestyle with a good second place swim while he managed another in the 100m Butterfly. David Bree managed a third place in the 100m Breaststroke while Gareth Morrison qualified for the 100m Backstroke final. In the relays the Campbell team of Neil Cameron, Andrew Bree, Gareth Morrison and Ashley Cochrane gained second place in both Medley and Freestyle events. The best performance in the senior section came from James Hand who had a great swim in the 100m Backstroke to win the gold medal with a good second place in the 100m Butterfly. Dennis Bree followed closely in third place in the 100m Butterfly and again in the 100m Freestyle. Marc Ruddock also managed a place in the final of the 100m Backstroke. The senior relay team of Dennis Bree, Marc Ruddock, James Hand and junior David Bree placed second in the Freestyle event.
The Irish Schools' Swimming Championships were held on the 7th and 8th of February at the Guinness Pool, in Dublin. Neil Cameron made the International Schools' team by taking third place in the 100m Freestyle, while James Hand gained second place in the 400m Freestyle and Andrew Bree second in the 100m Breaststroke. The relay team of Dennis Bree, Andrew Bree, Neil Cameron and James Hand narrowly missed first place in the Medley event and were controversially disqualified in the Freestyle event.
During the year, the annual 'Learn to Swim Week' was held and its success continued to flourish. With boys from all forms participating, Mr Gordon in charge and Mrs Ramsay administrating - all needs were catered for, both disabled and able children fully enjoying the experience.
