Liverpool & District SWPA Championships & Age Groups 2008

For all the RESULTS click  Results  on the left

Bagcat Results Added 10/2/2008

AGE GROUP RECORDS ADDED 12/2/2008

 End of an era

Val Howlin, Toby Tunstall and Simon Rothwell hang up their clipboards having being involved with the Liverpool & District Championships & Age Groups for over 15 years. Val has operated the computer for the results for over 15 years - a role she has also taken at City of Liverpool Galas, Lancashire Championships, Northern Counties/North West Region and National Championships Her experience is legendary and Val will be sadly missed. Toby,together with Simon, have organised the Liverpool & District Championships and Age Groups for 15 years and have also been responsible for the Lancashire County Championships & Age Groups, Northern Counties/North West Region and National Championships as well as holding senior roles in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Shirley Cooke 60 years on

Past President of the Liverpool & District Swimming & Water Polo Association Shirley Cooke is pictured presenting the Peace Trophy for the Women's 100m Freestyle to Megan Langley from Crosby Swimming Club which she had won herself 60 years ago.  Shirley is the only female L & D Champion to have gone on to be President in the Association's history.

Then swimming for Wallasey Swimming Club she was 23 years old when she won the Championship at the Byrne Avenue Pool in Birkenhead.  The conditions for competing were slightly different in those days as Shirley had to swim two to a lane with a woollen costume and goggles had not been invented let alone electronic timing!  Amazingly Shirley is still involved today - she is secretary of Ellesmere Port Swimming Club which she was instumental in founding and still has the enthusiasm to officiate at the Liverpool & District Championships every year.