Huge excitement for the Bo’ness ASC swimmers as the end of March approached. They knew it was the Scottish National Age Groups (SNAGs) being held in Sunderland, England for the first time. Swimmers travelled south on the 30th March to stay until Wednesday 4th April.  

The swimmers swam as F.I.R.S.T. (Falkirk Integrated Regional Swim Team). This is a regional swim team with the best of swimmers from Bo’ness Falkirk and Grangemouth swimming clubs. They are coached by Steven Tigg and the Age group squad by Monica Borland.

Bo’ness was delighted to have several swimmers fast enough to be entered. They were Craig and Stuart Knight, Kayrinne Kelly, Duncan Scott and Jemma Brown.

Saturday Duncan followed with a PB in the 200 Free and managed a 4th place for the final. Minutes later he was in the pool for the 100 Back and also made the final.

Saturday night at 5.15pm the swimmers prepared for the finals and the first of the relays. Duncan then bettered his PB from the afternoon and took Silver in the 200 Free. Duncan then finished his Saturday of solo events with a 7th in the 100 Back. All the boys swam in a variety of relays. All points for F.I.R.S.T. who finished Saturday in pole position.

Sunday PM saw Duncan swim for a 4th place in the 100 Fly heats with a PB. Two events later and he was up for the 400 IM. He PB’d by six seconds and took Gold.

Finals saw Duncan swim another PB from his heats where he took 3 seconds off his time to take Gold in the 100 Fly. The relays over and F.I.R.S.T. maintained their lead as top club

Monday Duncan Scott 14 swam a PB in the 200 IM to make the evenings finals. Minutes later in swam to 4th place in the 1500m Freestyle.

Finals were busy. Duncan took Gold and swimming a 4 second PB from the afternoon in the 200 IM. F.I.R.S.T. were still first as a team.

Tuesday.
Duncan swam in the afternoon session. His 200 Fly was fast enough for him to make the final. His 400 Free was a heat declared winner. He PB’d by 6 seconds and brought home Silver and more points for F.I.R.S.T.

Tuesday night’s finals started with Duncan leading all the way with a 7 second PB and the Gold. Inspired, Stuart swam to 8th in his 200 Fly followed by Craig taking 5th in the 400 Free with a new PB. The girls finished the evening with a 4x 100m IM Relay. F.I.R.S.T., as a team were still on top.

Wednesday, the final day.
Duncan was out in the afternoon. Duncan swam to make the 200 Breast final. finishing 13th in the country. The 14 year old boys then swam the 100 Free. Duncan made the final.

Finals and Duncan swam another PB and took Bronze in his 100 Free final. The team finished with the 4 x 100 boys IM Relays. It was acknowledged before the finals had started that F.I.R.S.T. as a team were the overall winners. It is the first time in ten years that Warrender had not won. An amazing accomplishment for a squad that was only formed six years ago. Thanks must go to Falkirk District Council for their support. Their support has enabled this programme of training to go from strength to strength.