RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 22nd October - Essex League Division 1 - Braintree

Town began their quest for a 12th successive Essex League Title with an emphatic performance.

The 11 years and under girls got the show on the road with a commanding win from Rebecca Cribb, Anna Manning, Georgia Milton and Chloe Thompson in the Freestyle Relay. Chloe Thompson won the 50m Butterfly, Rebecca Cribb won the 50m Backstroke and Georgia Milton, still recoving from illness, swam well for second place in the 50m Freestyle. Jess Ayling (10) replaced Georgia Milton in the Medley Relay which was alsowon convincingly.

The 11 years and under boys team of Dan Weston, Jacob Smith, Billy Harrison (10) and James Cooper (9) did well to take second place in their Freestyle relay. A position that was repeated in the Medley where Jack Rice (10) replaced Dan Weston. Billy Harrison was an impressive winner in the 50m Breaststroke, whilst Jack Rice and Jacob Smith were second in the Butterfly and Freestyle respectively.

A young Open Ladies team scored highly with 14 year olds Rosie Webber, Amy Harris and Victoria Christmas joining Bethaney Hall (16) for a good win in their Medley relay, before theywere narrowly beaten in their Freestyle relay. There were good wins for Hall and Harris in the 100m Freestyle and 100m Breaststroke respectively with Christmas and Webber second in the Butterfly and Backstroke.

Jake Harrison earned a win double in the men’s open 100m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle, whilst George Foley won the 100m Butterfly, but had to settle for 3rd place in his less favoured 100m Backstroke event. Harry Coker and Tom Benson joined the pair for the relays with the Freestyle being won and second place being achieved in the Medley. .

In the 13 years and under age group Mollie Merritt joined 12 year olds Hannah Binning, Holly Hildrew, Erin Corney in winning both their Medley and Freestyle relays. Hildrew also won the individual 100m Breaststroke and Corney did likewise in the 100 metres Butterfly. Binning was second in the 100m Backstroke and Merritt third in the 100m Freestyle.

Tom Badley, Jack Ayling, Calum Connelly and Mitchell Wilson (12) won both of the boys 13 and under relays. Patrick Rourke won the individual 100m Backstroke in fine style, whilst Badley and Connelly claimed second places in the Breaststroke and Freestyle, with Ayling third in the Butterfly.

13 year olds Jodi Whitehead. Sophie Ward, Bethany Moore and Stephanie Tomlinson represented Town in the Girls 15 years and under age group. The quartet earned first place in the Medley relay and second in the Freestyle. Whitehead also claimed victory in the individual 100 metres Breaststroke, whilst Moore and Ward were second in the Backstroke and Butterfly respectively, with Tomlinson 3rd in the Freestyle

The were wins for Harry Coker in the Butterfly and Backstroke in the Boys 15 and under category. Sam Allsop also swam well for second place in the Breaststroke and 3rd place in the 100m Freestyle. 12 year old Mitchell Wilson helped Allsop, Rourke and Ayling to second place in the Freestyle relay.

The last event of the evening, the squadron relay (one boy, one girl from each age group), saw Romford just pipped for first place as Anna Manning,Dan Weston, Holly Hildrew, Mitchell Wilson, Bethany Moore, Patrick Rouke, Victoria Christmas and Tom Benson brought a fine evening's swimming to a close..

Final Scores:

1. Romford Town 256
2. Canvey Island 183.5
3. Runnymede 176
4. Rochford 144.5
5. Braintree 131
6. Basildon 125

Well done to all that competed