RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th January - Essex Championships 2010 - Blackshots

County Championships Weekend Cut Short with Town on Top

The first Essex County Age Group weekend at Thurrock's Blackshots Pool ended prematurely when it was brought to the Referee’s attention that the water level appeared to be a little low and a halt was called to proceedings. Confusion ensued while rule books were checked and despite three of the weekend’s four scheduled sessions having been completed with the water only a few centimetres below the required mark, officials now deemed it to be below stipulated safety levels.

This was a big disappointment for both Romford swimmers and supporters alike as first up in the last session was to be the ladies 4 X 100 metres Medley relay team event. Expectations were high after the Ladies Freestyle team of Elena Sheridan, Nicola Rees, Harriette Davis and Nicole Raymond had stormed to Gold in the morning event. They had blown their opponents away by the second takeover, going on to win by nearly ten metres, only just missing out on the 2002 County record by little more than 0.60secs.

The Mens relay teams were also in the medals on the first day as Dan Stepton, James Davis , Sean Houlihan and Jamie Harrington put up a gallant fight to take the Bronze from the Freestyle event and when Masters swimmer, Dean Martin replaced Harrington in the Medley they came close to Gold, just losing out to their Redbridge rivals.

With a couple of first choice regulars missing from the line up of the girls 4 X 50 Medley Relay team, their replacements for the Breaststroke and Butterfly, Brock Whiston and Amy Beardwell-Lacey proved able substitutes. They combined with Rachel Welsh and Harriette Davis to snatch a well deserved silver medal.

Romford's first individual Gold of the weekend came from 10 years old Aiden Jackson who powered clear over the closing stages of the 50 metres Breaststroke to finish a metre clear.

11 years old Bethany Moore showed her all round talents reaching finals in all four strokes. The pick of her swims was 3rd place over 50 metres Butterfly and the runner up spot in the Backstroke event. Team mate Sophie Ward was a close 4th to Moore in the Butterfly.

Rachel Welsh started with a surprise 5th place in the girls 15 years 50 metres Butterfly. This set her up nicely for her main Backstroke swim where she showed her future potential with a win. As she turned the gas on at the mid-point the only other swimmer to respond was training partner Harriette Davis, who came closest, but had to be content with silver.

Whilst 14 years old Sean Houlihan seems to be well on the mend after an injury disrupted season he still managed to come away with four individual medals, in addition to those from the relays. His gold in the Breaststroke was followed by bronze on each of the other strokes. With so many swims in quick succession and the finishes in each of his races among the closest of the weekend, he was unlucky not to notch up more than only one win.

19 years old Nicola Rees, who has not trained much over the past few weeks , and is still in some considerable pain following a car accident, did remarkably well to record PBs and grab a silver medal in her Butterfly swim and bronze from the Freestyle. There were smiles all round as team mate Nicole Raymond shared the spoils in the Freestyle event as she and Rees both finished with a time 28.27secs.

13 years old Brock Whiston also set new personal standards and was rewarded with a medal of each colour for her efforts. She followed her relay silver with a victory in the Breaststroke, having only qualified to the final in 5th place and an outside lane. She took more than a second off her previous best Butterfly time to take the bronze here.

Romford's newest recruit, 10 years old Holly Hildrew notched up medals in each of her three events. A 3rd place in the Breaststroke was followed by silver from both the 50 metres Freestyle and Backstroke swims.

The 11 year old boys were in good form in the 50m Butterfly with Jack Ayling taking the silver and Kieran Gore placed 4th.

14 years old Elena Sheridan missed out on the opportunity to add to her relay Gold as her main Butterfly swim was to have been swum in the final session. She did, however, secure a hard fought bronze over 50 metres Freestyle. She had to settle for 4th place behind team mates Amy Beardwell-Lacey and Bethaney Hall in the Breaststroke event as they took 2nd & 3rd places respectively.

In the 17+ years category, Daniel Stepton was pushed close over 50 metres Backstroke and whilst the swim was a little below par he did enough to retain his title. In contrast a good swim in the Butterfly only brought a 5th place in a blanket finish.

There were many more outstanding swims from Romford Town swimmers. Those that finished just outside the medals but collected points towards the overall championship title by reaching the final were:-

• Mitchell Wilson - 5th - Boys 10 years 50 metres Butterfly
• Calum Connelly - 5th - Boys 11 years 50 metres Backstroke
• Victoria Christmas - 4th - Girls 12 years 50 metres Freestyle
• Victoria Christmas - 5th - Girls 12 years 50 metres Backstroke
• Sam Bishop - 4th - Boys 12 years 50 metres Breaststroke
• Jodi Whitehead - 4th - Girls 12 years 50 metres Breaststroke
• Amy Gore - 6th - Girls 13 years 50 metres Breaststroke
• Charles Sturley - 5th - Boys 13 years 50 metres Butterfly
• George Foley - 6th - Boys 14 years 50 metres Freestyle
• George Foley - 6th - Boys 14 years 50 metres Butterfly
• Alfie Burr, Sean Houlihan, Harry Coker, George Foley - 5th - Boys 4 x 50 Medley Relay

Well done to all that swam.