RTSC Gala Reports

Sunday 11th December - BWF Winter Open Meet - Waltham Forest Track and Pool

Romford Town's youngsters were outstanding in their final short-course competition of 2011.

Town's girls dominated the 9/10 year age group, with Emily Milton setting the standard with a fine win in the 200m Freestyle with team mate Molly Bath third. The 100m Individual Medley saw a 1-2-3 for Town's girls with Emily Milton, Fern Stuart and Isabelle Jopson doing the honours. With the races coming thick and fast Jopson and Stuart won silver and bronze in the 200m Breaststroke, before Milton and Stuart repeated the feat in the 200m Individual Medley. The 200m Butterfly saw Jopson win another silver medal with Georgia Marren earning the bronze. Stuart claimed a well-deserved gold medal in the 200m Backstroke, where Jopson rounded off an outstanding debut gala with another silver medal performance. Stuart also took the gold in the 10 year olds 100m Butterfly.

There were also a host of encouraging performances from the 9/10 year old boys. Lawrie Arrowsmith produced a gold medal swim in the 200m Backstroke with team mate Aaron Wilson close behind in second place. Powerful swims from Joe Groves won him silver medals in the 200m Freestyle and the 100m Breaststroke. Sam Brown was also amongst the medals, winning silver in the 100m Backstroke and 200m Breaststroke, whilst Jude Ward was 3rd in the 100m and 200m Individual Medleys. Lewis Binning was unlucky not to pick a medal in his first gala but did achieve two county qualifying times.

11 year old Georgia Milton was in superb form in the 11/12 years age group with 6 gold medal swims coming in the 100m Breaststroke, 100m Backstroke, 100m and 200m Individual Medleys, 200m Breaststroke and 100m Butterfly. New recruit Emily Meehan capped an impressive Town debut by winning the 200m Backstroke after placing third in the 100m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke. There were also welcome medals for Katie Trott,3rd in 100m Breaststroke and 100m Butterfly, Daisy Nolan-Day 3rd in 200m Individual Medley and Charlotte Gimbird, 3rd in 200m Breaststroke.

Zac Coleman starred in the boys 11/12 category where he won the 200m Freestyle, 100m and 200m Backstroke and was second in the 200m Individual Medley and 100m Freestyle. Alex Drury picked up medals in the Breaststroke, winning the 100m and picking up 3rd place in the 200m. Fast improving Oliver Bath won a medal of each colour, taking gold in the 100m Backstroke, silver in the 100m Butterfly and bronze in the 200m Freestyle. There was a silver medal for Matthew Juggins in the 200m Breaststroke and a bronze for Luke Harris in the 200m Breaststroke. James Rowell and Alex Nelson both enjoyed successful Town debuts with Rowell 2nd in the 100m Individual Medley and Nelson just behind in 3rd. Rowell also took silver in the 200m Backstroke and Nelson took another bronze in the 100m Breaststroke.

13 year old Yasmin Morris's development this season was rewarded with a five gold medal haul in the girls 13/14 category from wins in the 100m and 200m Freestyle, 100m and 200m Backstroke and the 200m Individual Medley. Megan Smith took home six medals from wins in her favoured 100m and 200m Breaststroke events and the 100m Individual Medley and second place swims in the 100m and 200m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley.

In the boys 13/14 age group David Slipaitis underlined his continuing improvement, picking up 6 gold medals from the 200m and 100m events in the Freestyle, Backstroke and Individual Medley.

Charlotte Chuck won four gold medals in the girls 15 and over category, winning the 100m and 200m Freestyle, 100m Breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley. Abbie Harrold won the the 100m Backstroke and 100m Individual Medley.

There were many other excellent swims with Essex County Qualifying Times being achieved or bettered across the board. 2012 looks set to be yet another exceptional year for Romford Town Swimming Club.

Well done to everyone that competed.