RTSC Gala Reports

10th September - Essex Mini League - Braintree

Whilst Elena Sheridan was taking on the best youth swimmers in the Commonwealth, Town's younger swimmers also got their new season off to a perfect start.

After only one full week's training under their belts it was pleasing to see the early-season strokework already bearing fruit and with fitness levels looking good a very good result was achieved against some strong competition.

Nine year old Jessica Ayling got the first points on the scoreboard with a good PB swim to take second place in the Girls 11 and under 50m Backstroke. In the boys event Billy Harrison (10) "beat the clock" to earn a "time fault" with another big PB. The 9 year old Boys Breaststroke Relay team of James Cooper, Reed Mansell, Jude Ward and Joseph Lomas were also time faulted after swimming impressively. A feat they also achieved in their Freestyle Relay.

However, the scoreboard was soon moving freely again as maximum points accrued from 9 year olds Kacey Harrold and Jude Ward in the 10 and under 50m Backstroke events, Chloe Thompson (11) and Ben Davis (12) in the 13 and under 100m Freestyle, Fern Stuart and James Cooper (9) in the 10 and under 50m Breaststroke and Anna Manning and David Brooks (10) in the 11 and under 50m Breaststroke.

Stephanie Tomlinson, Abbie Harrold, Laura Brooks and Ellie Harris swam to third place in the Girls Open Squadron Freestyle Relay, as did Ryan Ross, Tom Badley, Jack Ayling and Jonathan Toolis in the Boys race.

The 10 and under 50m Freestyle events brought a first place from Molly Bath (9) and second from Billy Wilson. Daisy Nolan-Day was 3rd and Luke Harris 2nd in the 11 and under events.

The Open 50m Backstroke events were impressively won by 13 year olds Stephanie Tomlinson and Tom Badley, before the 13 and under Breaststroke events saw Ellie Harris place 3rd and Jonathan Toolis second.

Town typically dominate the Butterfly events and tonight was no exception as the Butterfly Squadron Relays were comfortably won by Georgia Marren, Fern Stuart, Georgia Milton, Victoria Bishop, Chloe Thompson and Stephanie Tomlinson for the Girls and Joseph Lomas, James Cooper, Oliver Bath, William Manning, Jack Ayling and Ryan Ross for the Boys.

Second places were achieved in the 11 and Under 4 x 1 Relays with Georgia Milton, Daisy Nolan-Day, Victoria Bishop and Lauren Levell (10) swimming for the Girls and Oliver Bath, Luke Harris, Billy Harrison (10) and Billy Wilson for the Boys.

The points supply was drying up a bit as the gala entered it's last quarter, before a gutsy finish from 13 year old Jack Ayling secured 3rd in the Boys Open 100m Freestyle.

Fern Stuart and Joseph Lomas both earned maximum points in the 10 and under 50m Butterfly, before a terrific swim from Victoria Bishop was rewarded with only a time fault in the Girls 11 and under 50m Butterfly.

Two further wins came from the Squadron Breaststroke Relay teams of Kacey Harrold, Jessica Ayling, Anna Manning, Megan Witton, Stephanie Tomlinson and Laura Brooks, Joseph Lomas, Billy Harrison, David Brooks, Ben Davis, Tom Badley and Ryan Ross.

10 year old Georgia Milton won the Girls 13 and under 50m Butterfly with Oliver Coles(12) 2nd in the Boys race, as was Ryan Ross in the Boys Open Breaststroke.

The 13 and under Freestyle Relays brought second place swims from Chloe Thompson, Ellie Harris, Megan Witton and Victoria Bishop and Ben Davis, Oliver Coles, William Manning and Jonathan Toolis.

Victories from Jessica Ayling, Lauren Levell, Molly Bath, Fern Stuart, David Brooks, Billy Harrison, Billy Wilson and Reed Mansell in the concluding pair of 10 and under Freestyle Relays saw Town end the night as fairly comfortable winners and still with an outside chance of catching Colchester at the top of the table in final 2011 Mini League gala on October 8th

Gala result:

1. Romford Town 170
2. Rochford 152
3. Braintree 136
4. Basildon 128
5. Harwich 101

Well done to all that swam