Junior swimmers from Orion swam strongly to take second place in round two of the Nuneaton Junior League on Saturday 8th May. This was an even more impressive display than in the previous round; more skill shown, more team cheering, more team togetherness - and ultimately more top-2 finishes.

The gala began as it was to go on: with fast, hard racing by 10yr olds Niamh Heneghan and Dominic Lewis. Both claimed second place in the 50fc and showed how much they're improving week by week by listening, thinking and trying in training. And excitingly there's still scope to improve if they keep doing just that.

The team was joined for the first time by 9yr old Izobella Thompson and 10yr old Robin Lacey. Both proved their abilities with stylish - and speedy - breastroke swimming and both proved that Orion is a hotbed for developing talented youngsters.

After putting water between themselves and the field to take clear wins in the first round, older girls Mollie Wilson and Alice Miller faced far stronger challengers this time. It has been quite a month for this duo. Mollie won the Junior 3 Swimmer of the Month trophy for the second time, while Alice was selected to be part of the Warwickshire County team. With great reactions at the start, the girls raced hard again and showed many of the skills that make them so fast, but were nevertheless piped to wins by opponents from Lutterworth. This was a reminder that none of us - neither swimmers nor coaches - can afford to loose any focus on getting faster, however well we're doing. No matter how good you get, there are always people out there trying new things and training to beat you.

And that is the challenge for everyone before round three on Saturday 26th June: think and talk about how to get better and then practice getting better in training.

Andrew Fieldhouse, Head Junior Coach

Junior swimmers from Orion made themselves heard in more ways than one at the first round of the Nuneaton Junior League on Saturday 27th April - despite the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano keeping several members of the team out of the country. From top to bottom, through the boys and the girls, the team gave their rivals an ominous taste of what they can expect from Orion teams later in this competition. Fast swimming and loud team cheering were what they were all about. Swimmers showcased the skills they are training to master - technique, race savvy and self-belief. Under the direction of Head Coach Tom and Junior Coaches Andrew Fieldhouse, Karen Watson and Richard Packer and with the measured and unfailing support of the Committee, they have been transformed over the last year.

Three swimmers took individual wins - and showed how winning is always based on winning technique. In the 50m backstroke Alice Miller proved that swimming fast for at least 10m underwater off each wall makes fast backstroke. In the 50m fly, Matija Novovic was level with two other swimmers 10m out but squeezed out a win by not taking a breath between the flags and the wall. Meanwhile, Mollie Wilson showed that looking diagonally down at the water as you're breathing is one of the key elements of fast breastroke. In winning the 11yrs and 12yrs 50m breastroke Mollie also echoed what backstroke World Record Holder, Liam Tancock, said to me recently: "whenever I won in my own age group, I'd never be totally happy. I'd always look to see where I'd have come in the age group above. I always wanted more."

The night also saw some great debut swims all across the team. Two boys in particular stood out: 11yr old Matteo Wright-Jarrard and 9yr old Joe Taylor. These two are hot prospects - watch out for them!

Round 2 is in Worcester on Saturday 8th May. As absent swimmers return to the team, as we practise more of the things that make us swim fast and if we keep cheering louder than anyone and keep racing harder than anyone, we can expect great things. Round 2 promises to be quite an evening

Andrew Fieldhouse, Head Junior Coach

Brilliant display from Orion swimmers with more PBs produced than you can shake a stick at.

With the best part of 50 personal best times achieved it can only be described as a successful day's work for Orion. Even as the day drew on, tired swimmers were still producing great swims and even more PBs. A special note must be given to Jamie Dowling and Matija Novovic who competed in all 10 events and produced over 7 PBs a piece. A meet record was also broken by Claire Hession for the ladies open 100m Freestyle.

The whole team showed real class in the water and great team spirit on poolside with no Orion member swimming without a cheer!

Combined with the PBs, 39 medals were taken home for swimmers achieving 1st, 2nd or 3rd. This great medal haul left Orion in the dizzy heights of 5th place in the overall club standings.

Congratulations to all the swimmers who competed! I expect many more great swims to come from all of you!!!!!

Thomas Longvill

A tough draw against 3 first division (in NSL) teams meant the second round was always going to be tough and so it proved. A fifth place finish was the best we could have hoped for before the gala, and this was achieved. However often results do not tell the whole story and Saturday again showed the progress so many swimmers are making.

On the night there was a first place for Alice Miller and second places for Luka Novovic, Alice and the excellent 13/under relay team - finished off by an excellent debut from Daniel Moore.

The general feeling around club is that the team are progressing well and results will continue to improve at team and individual level. The swimmers should be praised for responding with hard work and dedication to the excellent coaching they are receiving...... now if those older boys could just lead by example in training (you know who you are!)

Loz Miller