RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March - Essex Championships 2009 - Braintree

Romford Town swimmers were in sparkling form on the third weekend of four in this year’s Essex County Age Group Championships, at Braintree’s Swimming Centre.

Despite finishing just outside of the medals in 4th spot, 14 years old Alfie Burr set the tone with the first of many battling performances over the two days of competition. His 17mins 31.92secs swim over 1500 metres was nearly 30 seconds faster than his entry time and elevated him in the rankings.

This was followed by Town's first medals, both bronze, for 14 years old Louise Harrington and 16 years old Jessica Coles over 100 metres Butterfly.

16 years old James Davis turned the hard work in the training pool into his and Romford’s first gold medal of the day as he sliced seven seconds off of his previous best 400 metres Freestyle time. Team mate Thomas Toolis swam a PB to finish 6th. On any other day 17 years old Daniel Stepton’s five second PB over 400 metres would have given him gold too, but he had to settle for silver by less than a second on this occasion. He had the consolation of adding this event to his growing list of National Qualifying Times.

13 years old Elena Sheridan warmed up for next week's British Championship event at Sheffield with a gold in the 200 metres IM event, smashing the previous Event Best Time by three seconds. Her winning time of 2mins 25.84secs also added to her comprehensive list of NQT’s.

Town’s most recent acquisition, 12 years old Amy Gore, showed that she has settled in with her new club by securing a win, a PB and an NQT of 2mins 31.52secs for gold over 200 metres IM.

In the afternoon session, James Davis added a bronze over 400 metes IM and Daniel Stepton chalked up his second silver in the age group above.

In the 14 years category there was a one-two for the Romford pairing of Harriette Davis and Rachel Welsh over 100metres Backstroke, both reaching new personal milestones. Davis who notched up her first NQT of the season in the heats took the gold with a faster time of 1min 07.16secs in the final and Welsh broke the 1min 10secs barrier for the first time to take silver with a time of 1min 09.72secs.

Romford had three swimmers in the final of the boys 13years 100 metres IM and came close to a clean sweep as they finished 1st, 3rd and 4th. Sean Houlihan took gold, less than 0.3secs away from a new event best time, with 1min 04.22secs. Joseph Stamp took the bronze with a time of 1min 09.61secs and Harry Coker was 4th only half a second further back.

Day two kicked off with some outstanding 1500 metres swims and Daniel Stepton chopped nearly 40 seconds off of his previous best to take the 17years + title with a time of 16mins 03.80secs. Training partner James Davis improved his best by more that 20 seconds to take silver in the 16 years age group with a time of 16mins 18.50secs, less than a second from another gold in a close tussle with his Redbridge rival. Jake Harrison also had a fine swim to finish 5th.

Houlihan, Stamp and Coker took on all comers in the boys 13 years 100 metres Butterfly and there were respective 1st, 2nd and 4th place finishes this time out.

In the 12 years age group a strong last lap by James Kidd in his 100 metres Butterfly brought him through to grab silver with a time of 1min 11.67secs , having set a three seconds PB in the heats.

Romford added three more medals to their tally in the junior girls 200 metres Breaststroke. In the 12 years age group, Amy Gore improved on her previous best by two seconds finishing with a time of 2mins 51.50secs to wrap up the gold, with Town's Brock Whiston setting a PB time of 2mins 55.52secs to take 4th.13 year olds Elena Sheridan and Bethaney Hall occupied the top two places in their age group with times of 2mins 45.71secs and 2mins 52.32secs.

Rachel Welsh added her first County gold with a nine seconds PB over 200 metres Backstroke and in the 16 years age group Nicole Raymond lowered her best time by three seconds to 2mins 25.41secs to come away with the silver.

There was a silver too for Harriette Davis and a 3rd place finish for Jessica Coles over 1500 metres Freestyle.

Sean Houlihan secured his third gold of the weekend with a time of 58.99secs in the 100 metres Freestyle and soon after this made it win number four as the 13 years old boys got that clean sweep that they had been threatening all weekend, in the 200 metres IM. An exciting event ended with the silver and bronze going to Stamp and Coker. In the 14 years age group, Alfie Burr rounded off his personal programme of events with another marvellous swim over 200 metres IM and was delighted to snatch his first ever County medal, a bronze with a time of 2mins 24.31secs.

Jake Harrison, who received a timely boost to his confidence earlier in the day with a top six finish in the 1500 metres Freestyle, chalked up his first ever County gold with a PB time of 1min 10 01secs over 100 metres Breaststroke. On this occasion James Davis had another good swim to finish 4th.

It was only fitting that such a great weekend of swimming was rounded off by Town’s youngest medallist as 10 years old Sophie Ward put together a gritty 400 metres IM performance to take 3rd place with a time of 6min 07.74secs.

There were several other top 6 finishes from Romford Town swimmers, a number unfortunate not to come away with a medal to show for some quality swims. These were:

• Sophie Ward - 6th - Girls 10 years 200 Breaststroke
• Kieran Gore - 4th - Boys 10 years 200 Freestyle
• Kieran Gore - 4th - Boys 10 years 400 Freestyle
• Victoria Christmas - 6th - Girls 11 years 200 IM
• Victoria Christmas - 5th - Girls 11years 200 Backstroke
• Luke Sheridan - 5th - Boys 11 years 400 Freestyle
• George Ellis - 6th - Boys 12 years 100 IM
• George Ellis - 4th - Boys 12 years 100 Freestyle
• George Ellis - 6th - Boys 12 years 200 IM
• Bethany Hall - 5th - Girls 13 years 200 IM
• Joseph Stamp - 6th - Boys 13 years 100 Freestyle
• Brock Whiston - 4th - Girls 14 years 200 IM
• Brock Whiston - 6th - Girls 14 years 200 Backstroke
• Alfie Burr - 4th - Boys 14 years 100 IM
• Alfie Burr - 5th - Boys 14 years 100 Butterfly
• Nicole Raymond - 4th - Girls 16 years 100 Backstroke
• Natalie Ward - 4th - Girls 17 years+ 100 Backstroke
• Daniel Stepton - 5th - Boys 17 years+ 100 Breaststroke

Well done to all.

Gary Rogers