RTSC Gala Reports

24/25 May 2008 - Borough of Waltham Forest Olympic Development Meet

Following last week’s exploits at Sheffield, for some, it was the chance to compete in a short course pool.

There appeared to be no problems for Alfie Burr and Sean Houlihan in making the transition, as the pair raced off in the first event of the day, the 200 metres Individual Medley. Sean took the honours as he won the event in a new short course personal best time, whilst Alfie produced a good personal best time in coming 3rd.

Ten-year-old Victoria Christmas was gaining valuable race experience prior to London District Championships as she was next to swim in the 100 metres Freestyle in which she gained a three second personal best time. There were further personal best times in the 200 metres Backstroke and 400 metres Individual Medley in which she gained a good 2nd place.

Also swimming in the 10/11 year age group, was Brock Whiston who fuelled with confidence from her results the previous week, swam to a personal best time in the 200 metres Backstroke, where she came 6th. In her favourite, Breastroke, she gained a further personal best time in the final of the 100 metres in which she gained 2nd. Sandwiched between the heat and final of the 100 metres Breastroke, however saw her swim a gutsy 200 metres Butterfly in which she gained 1st place.

Also competing in her favourite Breastroke event was twelve-year-old Bethaney Hall, who gained 3rd place in the 12/13 years 100 metres Breastroke event.

Sean Houlihan, kept the medals flowing in the Breastroke events, as he took 1st place in the 12/13 years 100 metres Breastroke, having gained a 3rd place finish earlier in the day in the 100 metres Freestyle.

15-year-old Thomas Toolis made it to the final of the 100 metres Freestyle also, where he came 5th. He was also 4th in the 200 metres Backstroke in which team mate Anthoney Wright gained 5th spot.

There were further medals for Town swimmers, on day one of competition, in the 200 metres Butterfly. Louise Harrington took top spot as she won the girls 12 / 13 year’s age group, whilst Alfie Burr took silver in the corresponding boys age group.

Day two of competition saw Alfie Burr competing in the first event, the 12/13 years 400 metres Freestyle. Continuing his recent good form, he swam to a super seven-second personal best time in finishing in 2nd place.

This was immediately followed by Brock Whiston, who, with a further personal best time came 2nd in the 10/11 years 200 metres Individual Medley. She went one better later in the morning, as she took 1st place in her favourite 200 metres Breastroke, in which team mate Victoria Christmas gained a good 5th place.

12-year-old Bethaney Hall took 2nd spot in the 12/13 years age group 200 metres Breastroke.

Sean Houlihan continued the good results for Town swimmers in the Breastroke events as his recent fine form continued with a very strong display as he won the 12/13 years age group 200 metres Breastroke.

Romford were well represented during the 100m finals as Alfie Burr and Sean Houlihan continued their busy weekend of competition as they raced one another in the final of the 100 metres Butterfly, with Sean coming 2nd and Alfie taking 3rd place.

Brock Whiston with a busy schedule of events also, came 6th in the 10/12 years 100 metres Butterfly, whilst Louise Harrington did likewise in the 12/13 years age group. Zoey Littlechild gained a good 5th place finish in the final of the 14 / 15 years 100 metres Butterfly.

The final session of the weekend’s competition saw Alfie Burr and Sean Houlihan battling it out again, this time over the 400 metres individual medley. Despite their busy schedule of events, the two of them were undeterred as they both raced to impressive personal best times, with Alfie taking 3rd place and Sean 2nd spot in the 12/13 years age group.

Brock Whiston, continued to perform well and summoned up further efforts in taking 4th place in the final of the girls 10 / 11 years 100 Backstroke and despite the weekends exertions still managed a very good four second personal best time and 2nd place in the 200 metres Freestyle. This proved enough for her to secure the Top Girl award in her age group.

Ten year old, Victoria Christmas continued to be rewarded for her recent commitment to training, as she was just behind Brock in coming 5th in the 100 metres Backstroke, whilst another good personal best time secured her 6th place in the 200 metres freestyle.

15-year-old Thomas Toolis gained 3rd place in the final of the 100 metres Backstoke and went one better in the 200 metres freestyle taking 2nd spot.

Sean Houlihan rounded his weekend off in good style, as second spot in the final of the 100 metres Backstroke was enough to secure Top Boy in the 12 / 13 year age group.

Well done to all those that competed.