RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 17th/Sunday 18th October - BWF Autumn Meet - Waltham Forest Pool

A young and mostly inexperienced group of Town swimmers gained valuable race practice and enjoyed success in their first Open competition of the 2009/2010 season.

It was an early Saturday morning start for Hannah Coles (14) and Vanessa Sutton (15) in the 400m Freestyle and they were rewarded with silver and bronze medals in the 14-15 years age group. The same girls were soon picking up further medals with 4th and 5th places respectively in the 200m Individual Medley.

In the 50m Freestyle Yasmin Morris did well to pick up a 6th place medal in a tough Girls 9-11 years category. Sophie Thompson gained 4th place in the 12-13 years age group and Vanessa Sutton was 5th in the 14-15 year group.

Hannah Coles was soon in action again in the 200m Butterfly earning herself a bronze medal.

There was success for Lileigh Argent in her first open competition with an encouraging 5th place in the 9-11 years 200m Breaststroke.

The 50m Butterfly event saw 9 year olds Chloe Thompson and Sophie Mascall winning medals in the 9-11 year category with Chloe 2nd and Sophie 6th in her open meet debut. There were 3rd and 5th place finishes for Sophie Thompson and Charlotte Chuck in the 12-13 year group. Thomas Benson (14) picked up 5th place in the Boys 14-15 year group.

Sophie and Charlotte were soon amongst the medals again with 4th and 6th in the 100m Freestyle.

Saturday’s proceedings concluded with the Girls 100m Individual Medley where Sophie Thompson took bronze in the 12-13 years and Vanessa Sutton 5th in the 14-15 years.

Sunday morning brought early success for the boys with Sam Bishop (12) 3rd in the 12-13 years 200m Freestyle, Oliver Coles 5th in the 9-11 and Thomas Benson (14) 5th in the 14-15 age group. Hannah Coles was 5th in the Girls 14-15 group.

Thomas Benson won a silver medal in the Boys 14-15 years 50m Backstroke. Sophie Thompson did likewise in the Girls 12-13 year event, where Charlotte Chuck added to her medal collection with a 5th place.

Another impressive Breaststroke swim earned a second medal for Lileigh Argent, a silver this time, in the 9-11 years 100m event. Victoria Bishop (10) wasn’t far behind in 6th place. Charlotte Chuck won silver in the 12-13 years category with Emily Dietz (12) in 4th place. Sam Bishop took 5th place in the Boys 12-13 event.

Oliver Coles’ busy weekend continued with 4th and 5th places in the Boys 9-11 years 200m Butterfly and 200m Backstroke respectively. Sam Bishop also picked up 5th place in the Boys 12-13 years Backstroke, as did Hannah Coles in the Girls 14-15 years.

The 50m Breaststroke swims brought a 4th place for Thomas Benson in the 14-15 year category. Lileigh Argent and Victoria Bishop were 3rd and 5th respectively in the Girls 9-11 group. Town picked up 3 medals in the 12-13s age group through Sophie Thompson (2nd), Charlotte Chuck (3rd) and Emily Dietz (5th).

Oliver Coles rounded off his schedule with 5th place in the 9-11 years 100m Butterfly. Victoria Bishop took 4th place in the Girls 9-11s and Hannah Coles 5th in the 14-15s.

Sam Bishop brought a close to a good weekend’s work for Town with 4th place in the Boys 12-13m Individual Medley.

Lorna Bo, Alex Drury, Daniel Matthews and Billy Wilson all gained valuable experience at their first open meets. New recruit Calum Connelly picked up gold medals for each of his four swims.

Well done to those that competed!