THE first serious team competition of the year saw Newton Hall, the current champions, start their defence of their title.

T he Lancashire Swim League gala at Fleetwood pool saw the champions take on the home team and last year's runners up Chorley.

What was likely to be a close encounter was just that, with the lead changing hands at various parts of the gala.

With the excellent Karen Skelly winning all her swims and the potential Olympian Lisa How winning all her races and both contributing to wins in all their relay events, the stage was set for some very exciting close swims.

Other individual wins by Penny Edmonson, Hollie Jones and Samantha Taylor meant that two teams, Fleetwood and Newton Hall were level on 101 points each going into the last race.

The finale, and always the most exciting, is the canon when two swimmers of each age group swim in the fast freestyle relay over six lengths.

Karen Skelly, Steven Kent, Penny Edmonson, Richard Mineur, Lisa How and Adam Carlisle had enough power to overcome a spirited Fleetwood team to win by 107 points to 105 with Chorley coming third with 88 points.

Meanwhile the micro league for the 9-12 year age group also got under way with Newton Hall coming third at Preston and the Rays a creditable second place only two points behind winners Colne.

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