Swimming: Armayan wants to seal place in style (From Bournemouth Echo)

Swimming: Armayan wants to seal place in style

7:00am Thursday 10th November 2011 in Swimming By Roger Guttridge

A FIRST-ever Premier Division final beckons for Poole as they head for their second round gala in the National Arena League West at Millfield on Saturday.

And beyond that lies the even greater prize of qualification for the national finals at Sheffield in April.

Thanks to the six league points earned through their first round victory at Kingswood, Bristol, last month, third place on Saturday should be enough to secure Poole a place in the West final on December 10.

But coach Robin Armayan is aiming for better than third.

“We are there to win not to come second,” he said. “We are picking a team designed to win and to get as many points as possible.

“We should have a stronger team than in the first round with some swimmers swimming more often and the best swimmers swimming their best events.”

Victory on Saturday would be an extraordinary result against a line-up headed by Premier Division table-toppers Millfield, who were national league champions in 2005 and have been tipped by some to regain their West title from Plymouth Leander this year.

But Poole’s chances could be hampered by injury and illness.

“Four or five swimmers are doubtful and not having some of our best swimmers would make things more difficult,” said Armayan.

“But I certainly want to be top two. Third would be disappointing.”

Millfield apart, Poole’s other four opponents are all teams that they beat in Bristol last month – although Swim Swansea could be stronger if they bring in any of the Swansea-based internationals who were unavailable last time.

Swim Bournemouth’s chances of making the Premier Division final have been dealt a blow by news that the December showdown will be in Millfield’s eight-lane pool rather than in Cardiff’s 10-lane facility as originally planned.

That means there will be two less finalists and it will take an exceptional result at Newport to put Bournemouth – currently 12th in the table – among the eight teams at Millfield on December 10.

“We would have to come first or second with a good gala points score,” said head coach Emma Hirst.

“But we have always seen this as a development year.

“We have a young, inexperienced team and we are giving them a great opportunity to race against high-performing teams.”

Assistant coach Sam Woodward added: “It would be brilliant to make the final but if we fall into gala two next month we could hopefully win it, which would be a big boost for the kids.”

December’s Premier Division final will be followed at Millfield by the Division One final and Seagulls are in pole position to succeed Poole as champions of the West’s second tier.

The Christchurch club – recently strengthened by the link-up with Bournemouth Collegiate School’s swim scholarship squad – head for Weston-super-Mare on Saturday as league leaders following their resounding first round win at Exeter.

Director of swimming Barry Alldrick said: “We have strengthened the team in some areas from the first round.

“Southwold will be our biggest challengers but I’m confident we can win again and win the league next month.”

Swim Bournemouth B – second in Division Two – follow Poole’s gala at Millfield and should stride into their final for the second year running.

Wareham Water-Rats and North Dorset Turboes, who occupy two of the last three places in Division Three, head for Bristol’s Horfield pool and Exeter Riverside respectively.