RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 10th October - The National Arena Swimming League - Division 1
Round 1 - University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

As in 2008, Romford Town Swimming Club had a tough opening round to this year’s National Swimming League (now with new sponsors Arena) in their Division 1 encounter on Saturday at Hatfield’s University of Hertfordshire pool. Again they found themselves up against the hosts, Hatfield, though there was the added challenge of the City of Norwich (UEA) in this year’s eight team draw, where Romford had expected at best, to finish in 3rd place. Despite such strong opponents, Town amassed more than 300 points for only the second time ever and turned in a string of outstanding swims to push Norwich all the way to an unexpected tie for 2nd place. With many of the Town team swimming against older competitors in this double age group competition, it was not surprising that they could only clock up five wins on the night.

In the individual events Daniel Stepton’s PB and 3rd place in the Mens Open 200 metres IM brought Romford’s first top three finish and this was closely followed by the first win of the evening for 11 years old Bethany Moore over 50 metres Backstroke. A little off the pace at the turn, Moore found another gear over the closing stages to snatch the verdict. In the boys backstroke event, Kieron Gore also had a strong finish for 3rd place. Sister Amy Gore went one better in the very next race, the Girls 13/U 100 metres Breaststroke, and a good early pace gave her that cushion to hold off a late challenge to finish 2nd.

There were 3rd places for 13 years old Harry Coker, who set a PB time of 1min 20.19secs over his 100 metres Breaststroke and for 15 years old Harriette Davis in her first competition following a shoulder injury. Her swim was over 100 metres Backstroke.

There were more PBs for Town’s National Age Group winners Sean Houlihan and Elena Sheridan. 14 years old Houlihan’s first individual swim was against older opponents over 100 metres Backstroke. Having set a best ever time over 200 metres Backstroke, competing for London Region only last weekend, he lowered his 100 metres time to 1min 04.38secs this time out taking the runner-up spot. He saved his best for his main Breaststroke event which he later dominated from start to finish. His winning time of 1min 11.48secs was also a PB.

14 years old Sheridan, taking on the senior swimmers in the Open 100 metres Butterfly, was in sparkling form as she grabbed 2nd place with a PB time of 1min 04.37secs. She was back in action only six events later in the 15/U Butterfly event where, like Houlihan, she lead out from the start and took the victory with some to spare. She later added another seven points to the Romford tally with 2nd place in the 15/U 100 metres Breaststroke.

After Stepton had secured 3rd place in the Mens Open 100 metres Butterfly it was again the turn of the youngsters to pick up some valuable points. 11 years old Sophie Ward, who continues to impress with every outing, hit the turn first in her 50 metres Butterfly swim and powered on to make it victory number four and eight more points. In the 50 metres Breaststroke, Jodi Whitehead improved on her best but narrowly missed out on another Town win, coming in 2nd with a time of 40.62secs. Kieron Gore, who favours the longer events, was reeling in his Colchester rival over the closing stages of his 50 metres Breaststroke swim, but was another who had to be happy with a PB and 2nd place. Bethany Moore was also the runner up in her 50 metres Freestyle after another close tussle for maximum points, just losing out again to a Colchester opponent.

In the 13/U years age group, Harry Coker matched his 3rd place from earlier with another over 100 metres Backstroke. He showed there could be more to come next time out as he left his storming finish a little too late to affect the outcome at the front of the field. In the girls and boys Butterfly events both Brock Whiston and James Kidd finished 2nd with PB times. On both occasions the battle was on for the silver spot as Hatfield swimmers lead the way and both times Romford held off the challenge from lanes either side for their seven team points. 12 years old Victoria Christmas also moved the points total moving along and added to Town’s growing list of PB swims with a time of 1min 05.48secs over 100 metres Freestyle and yet another runner up place.

14 years old Bethaney Hall was not overawed at having to compete in the open age group and was near to her best in taking 3rd place in the 100 metres Breaststroke. The open Freestyle events brought a 3rd place for Nicole Ramond in the Ladies event and in the Men’s Jamie Harrington shaved a little off his previous best to take 2nd with a time of 54.92secs.

Whilst Romford battled hard and came close time and again, they were no match in depth, for the University teams of Hatfield and Norwich in the relay events, as they had to settle for 3rd place in no less than twelve of the sixteen team events. They did, however, better that 3rd place on one occasion when the 9-11 years girls team of Bethany Moore, Jodi Whitehead, Sophie Ward and Hannah Binning combined to secure the only relay gold of the evening in their Medley event. The same foursome also did well for 3rd place in their Freestyle relay event. The boys 9-11years Medley relay team of Connor Houlihan, Kieron Gore, Toby Mascall and Sam Coker chipped in with their own six points and a 3rd place as well.

The 13/U relay teams of Rosie Webber, Amy Gore, Brock Whiston and Victoria Christmas added another twelve points to the Romford tally with 3rd place in both their Freestyle and Medley events, as did Rachel Welsh, Bethaney Hall, Harriette Davis and Elena Sheridan in 15/U age group. The boys 15/U relay quartet on both occasions was Alfie Burr, Tom Clark, Sean Houlihan and Harry Coker, who not wishing to be outdone by the girls, also added two 3rd place finishes.

The story was much the same in the Open Age Group category with 3rd places all round for both boys and girls. The senior girls medley relay team comprising Rachel Welsh, Bethaney Hall, Nicola Rees and Nicole Raymond and the boys team of Daniel Stepton, Jake Harrison, Sean Houlihan and Jamie Harrington pulled out all the stops and, whilst they came close, could not quite match the strength of the older university team swimmers. The girls were joined by Elena Sheridan and Harriette Davis and the boys by Tom Clark and Alfie Burr for the closing 6 X 50 metres Freestyle events, where again spirited performances resulted in 3rd places.

Result:

1. Hatfield 366
2. Romford Town 302
2. UEA City of Norwich 302
4. Colchester 216
5. Bishops Stortford 174
6. Anaconda 161
7. Hemel Hempstead 152
8. Sutton and Cheam 117

What a great evening of swimming....well done to all.