RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 14th November - The National Arena Swimming League - Division 1
Round 2 - University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Romford Town's 2nd round encounter at this year’s National Arena Swimming League went according to plan as they returned to the Hertfordshire University pool for the second round in succession. Favourites on the night, the City team from Ipswich as expected had a comfortable victory with Romford in 2nd place and the Brighton based Shiverers team nearly 40 points further back in 3rd place. This outstanding result for Romford books them a place in next month’s Crystal Palace final.

As in the previous round, Romford could not match the strength in depth of the bigger teams in most of the age group relays, though did manage to chalk up three 2nd places in the opening exchanges this time round.

The girls 9-11 years Freestyle relay team of Bethany Moore, Sophie Ward, Jodi Whitehead and Hannah Binning came close, but were overpowered on the very last stroke. The same quartet though later took their revenge in the Medley event, winning with some ease. The girls 15/U Freestyle team of Rachel Welsh, Harriette Davis, Elena Sheridan and Bethany Hall and the Mens Open Medley team of Daniel Stepton, Jake Harrison, Sean Houlihan and Jamie Harrington were both to secure runner up places in quick succession.

16 years old Nicole Raymond had put Town's first points on the board with 3rd place from a strong opening 200 metres IM swim and this was directly followed by a 2nd place swim from Stepton in the Mens event.

As in the last round of competition, 11 years old Bethany Moore took the first individual win of the evening in her age group 50 metres Backstroke. Pressed hard all the way this time she did well to hold off a late charge to take a fingertip verdict.

In the 13/U Breaststroke events, both Amy Gore and Harry Coker had to settle for silver before Harriette Davis clocked up Town's next win. A little off the pace at 50 metres she turned up the heat over the closing stages to hit the front with less than 10 metres to go, to set up another narrow victory.

Sean Houlihan swam a PB time of 1min 03.86secs over 100 metres Backstroke and Elena Sheridan (ladies 100 metres Butterfly), returning after the flu, kept the score board ticking over with respective 3rd and 2nd places.

Stepton, already feeling the strain after two swims in quick succession was up again and did well to hold on for 3rd place in his 100 metres Butterfly event.

In the 10-11 years 50 metres Butterfly events, both Sophie Ward and Toby Mascall had to settle for the silver spot, though both improved on their performance times from the first round.

14 years old Sheridan scored Romford’s next win in the girls 15/U 100 metres Butterfly, but not before Brock Whiston and Harry Coker added twelve more team points to the board with 3rd places in the 13/U 100 metres Backstroke events. In the Butterfly, Sheridan was level with her Ipswich adversary as they turned for home, only to move up a gear to triumph by a clear five metres.

A string of 3rd place finishes came from Alfie Burr (15/U 100 metres Butterfly), Rachel Welsh with a PB time of 1min 08.84secs (Open 100 metres Backstroke), Jodi Whitehead also with a PB time of 39.91secs (10-11 years 50 metres Breaststroke) and Kieron Gore (10-11 years 50 metres Breaststroke). The sequence was broken by 12 years old Brock Whiston who again came through the field to snatch 2nd place in the girls 13/U 100 metres Butterfly.

Harriette Davis brought home six more points as she followed her earlier win in the Backstroke with a 3rd place in the girls 15/U Freestyle event and 14 years old Bethaney Hall had a good fight in the womens 100 metres Breaststroke, finishing 2nd. Jake Harrison was near to his best form for 3rd place in the Men’s event.

12 years old Victoria Christmas, swimming a year under age in the girls 13/U 100 metres Freestyle showed that she was a force to be reckoned with in that age group as she powered her way through to another 2nd place. The story was the same for 14 years old Houlihan who, also competing against older opponents, had to be content with 2nd place over 100 metres Breaststroke. The last of the top three individual finishes both came in the open Freestyle events with strong swims from Nicole Raymond and Jamie Harrington.

Most of the hard work had been done by the closing relay swims as Romford were able to consolidate their second place finish overall. Here there were 2nd place finishes from both of the 15/U Medley teams as Rachel Welsh, Bethaney Hall, Elena Sheridan and Harriette Davis' result for the girls was matched by the boys team of Alfie Burr, Sean Houlihan, Harry Coker and Tom Clark. Burr, Houlihan and Clark also played their part in the Open 6 X 50 metres Freestyle event as they combined with Stepton, Harrrison and Harrington for another 2nd place finish.

Romford chalked up three more top three finishes in the relay events as the boys 9-11 years foursome of Conor Houlihan, Kieron Gore, Toby Mascall and Sam Coker were 3rd, a result equalled by the girls 13/U Freestyle team of Christmas, Amy Gore, Whiston and Rosie Webber and the Ladies 6 X 50m Freestyle team of Raymond, Kira Fawke, Davis, Welsh, Sheridan and Hall.

Result:

1. Team Ipswich 368
2. Romford Town 307
3. Shiverers 261
4. Colchester 235
5. Bishops Stortford 203
6. Teddington 202
7. Hemel Hempstead 171

Well done to all.........onwards and upwards!