RTSC Gala Reports

16th/17th May 2009 - London Borough of Enfield Open Meet - Southbury

Romford Town’s promising youngsters excelled at Enfield’s annual open meet.

Victoria Christmas was in impressive form in the 11 and under Girls age group, winning Gold medals in the 200m Individual Medley, 200m Backstroke and 100m Backstroke. Jodi Whitehead was 2nd in the 50m Breastroke and 3rd in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke. 10 year old Sophie Ward was a winner in the 100m Butterfly and 3rd in the 200m Individual Medley.

In the Boys 11 and under category 10 year old Conor Houlihan was 2nd in both the 50m and 100m Breaststroke events, whilst Sam Allsop was 3rd in 50m Backstroke.

There was considerable success in the Girls 12-13 category with 12 year old Rosie Webber 1st in the 200m Backstroke, 2nd in the 200m Freestyle, 50m and 100m Butterfly and also 3rd in 200m Butterfly and 50m Backstroke. Emma Aston, also 12, was 3rd in the 100m Freestyle and 200m Breaststroke. Laura Brooks (12) was second in the 100m Backstroke with clubmate Sophie Thompson 3rd.

In the Boys 12-13 category Josh Rogers, despite being handicapped by injury, achieved a 1st place in the 200m Backstroke, 2nd place in the 100m Breaststroke and 3rd places in the 400m Freestyle and 100m Freestyle. Harry Coker was 1st in the 200m Individual Medley with 12 year old Sam Bishop, also struggling with injury did well to pick up 3rd place in the 200m Freestyle. Charlie Davis, also 12, was 2nd in the 200m Breaststroke.

There was a successful weekend for 14 year olds Hannah Coles and Kate Heptinstall competing in the 14-15 years Girls age group. Hannah was a winner in the 200m Butterfly, 2nd in the 100m Butterfly and 400m Freestyle and 3rd in the 200m Individual Medley. Kate, despite missing a week's training through illness, still managed to pick up 2nd places in the 50m Butterfly and 100m Backstroke. Isabel Allsop had a good win in the 100m Breaststroke and was second in the 50m event.

Thomas Clark, swimming in the 14-15 Boys category picked up gold medals in the 50m Breaststroke and 50m Butterfly and gained silver in the 100m Butterfly and bronze in the 100m Freestyle.

16 year old David Ward, swimming in the 16 and over age group, took a break from his GCSE revision to win the 100m Breaststroke and 50m Backstroke.

Town were well represented in the Medley "skins" events with those swimmers achieving top 8 finishes in the 200m Individual Medley as either Under 14 years old or 14 years and over qualifying. Victoria Christmas, Emma Aston and Rosie Webber all made it into the Girls Under 14 event where Victoria was only beaten in the final round by a 13 year old opponent. Hannah Coles made it to the last three in the Girls 14 and Over event.

Harry Coker produced a number of impressive swims to win the under 14 years skins, whilst 14 year old Conor Toolis did well to qualify for the Boys 14 and Over contest.

There were many encouraging swims from other Town swimmers, particularly our 9 and 10 year olds who were competiting in a very tough 11 years and under age group. These swimmers will soon begin to reap the rewards they are entitled to in return for the effort they are putting into their training.

Well done everyone.