Romford Town Swimming Club
established 1900
RTSC Gala Reports
12th/13th January 2008 - Exeter City Long Course - Millfield School
Town's long course competition programme gets off to an outstanding start
Romford Town opened their new year long course competition programme with a West Country trip to the
Millfield Schools Pool in Street, Somerset, for the Exeter City’s 25th Annual Open Meet. There were so many
outstanding performances from the Town team, though the pick of these on this occasion was edged by
12 years old Sean Houlihan who was thrilled to notch up his first two National Qualifying Times of
the season.
Houlihan set off with a PB in the 400 metres freestyle, breaking the 5 minutes barrier for the
first time with 4mins 58.55ssecs and took an unexpected bronze medal. This clearly set him up for the
rest of the competition and another PB, and his first gold medal, followed in the 200 metres IM, though
this was tinged with disappointment as his time of 2mins. 36.66secs saw him narrowly miss his NQT.
However, he didn’t have to wait long as a bronze and another PB over 200 metres freestyle was quickly
followed by his first NQT in the 100 metres breaststroke with a time of 1min 20.32secs adding a silver
medal to his already mounting collection. A strong opening butterfly leg in the 400IM saw him take a
commanding lead which he extended further on the breaststroke to bring him in with a winning time of
5mins 27.98 and his second NQT. Houlihan added two further PB’s and two more silver medals to his haul
in the 100 metres freestyle and 200 metres breaststroke events.
In the same age group 11 years old Harry Coker needed to be at his best against a strong field of 12
year old swimmers and a PB time of 2mins 46.32 gave him a silver medal in his 200 metres butterfly.
A six second PB over 400 metres IM took him through to 5th.
Though still in heavy training, 14 years old Kelsey Richards had a great start to her long course
season. As one of the younger swimmers in the joint 14/15 years age group, she got the ball rolling
with a bronze medal and a PB in the girls 400 metres IM event. The pick of her swims was the 800
metres freestyle where she sliced 6 seconds from her previous best time to take the girls overall
senior/junior title with a time of 9mins 41.13secs. Whilst this event clearly took its toll on her
physically, she still managed to turn out good performances over 400 metres freestyle, secure another
bronze over 200 metres butterfly, snatch a place in the senior girls 100 metres butterfly final and
round off her weekend with a PB over 200 metres freestyle.
12 years old Elena Sheridan, swimming out of age in the girls 12/13 years category, also produced
some fine performances. Her best swim on the first day of competition came over 400 metres IM, where
a PB time of 5mins 35.69secs, 13 seconds faster than last time out, gave her a well earned 4th spot.
There was better still on day 2, though better race preparation for her main 200 metres butterfly event
would surely have secured her first NQT of the campaign and have elevated her higher in the medal
standings than her 3rd place finish. She didn’t have to wait too long though for her first NQT of the
year, which came later that day in the shorter 100 metres butterfly event. A flowing first length was
matched by a strong finish over the second 50 metres and a time of 1min 10.94secs took her through as
fastest into the U/13 final. Here she finished 4th to the older competitors.
In the 11/U age group, Brock Whiston embarked on a tough Schedule of events and like Sheridan kicked
off with a substantial PB over 400 metres IM to secure 4th spot. A PB time of 2mins 54.05secs was also
good enough for 4th place in the 200 metres event. There were six more PB times and six top eight
finishes from her remaining six events. Her best results came over 200 metres backstroke where a time
of 2mins 53.21secs gave her 3rd place and 200 metres Breaststroke, where a gritty finish brought her
through to take the silver medal.
Georgia Hunton Clarke bagged herself four medals, though a lacklustre opening 200 metres backstroke
was only good enough for bronze in an event she should have won at a canter. There was greater
determination in the 100 metre event where only a hesitant turn denied her victory as she had to settle
for the silver. A PB over 100 metres butterfly was improved further in the final in which she took
another bronze,with a time of 1min 09.90secs. She added a second silver in her 200 metres freestyle
event.
15 years old Jessica Coles had four top eight finishes with two silver medals coming from her 100
& 200 metres breaststroke swims. Further gutsy efforts in the 200 metres IM and 200 metres butterfly
brought her through into 5th place on both occasions. Her sister Hannah also had her own personal
successes with PB’s from all of her weekend swims.
Despite the disruption to training through illness and more recently school exams, 17 years old Billy
Tubbs produced three strong freestyle swims. His first, over 400 metres, gave him the boost he needed
and although he faded a little over the closing stages, held on for a bronze medal. He went one better
in the 200 metres event, setting a PB time of 2mins 04.65secs to grab the silver. He finished just
outside his best over the 100 metres with a time of 57.94secs.
Illness over the Christmas period had also dogged 15 years old Jake Harrison, though this did not stop
him picking up four top eight finishes, including new PB times over 200 and 400 metres IM. The effects
of the lay-off did however take its toll on his main breaststroke swims as he finished outside of the
medals this time round.
There were many more good swims from Town and several more top eight places. A number of these came
in the 12/13 years category with 12 years old Bethany Hall’s 7th spot in the 200 metres breaststroke
her best result from a good weekend of swimming. Jodie Momodu(13) continued her return to form with a 4th place over 200 metres breaststroke and a 5th in the 100 metres event. 13 years old Kariena Tubbs demolished her previous best time over 100 metres butterfly to squeeze into the 13/U final with a time of 1min 16.15secs.
14 years old Nicole Raymond was unfortunate to miss out on a medal as she finished 4th with a PB in the
14/15 years 200 metres IM. A fast 50 metres freestyle swim secured her 5th place in the ladies open
event and she added a 6th over 100 metres backstroke, again in the 14/15 years age group.
Brothers Joseph(12) and Christopher Stamp(15) also had a successful couple of days. Joe carved out
three PB’s from his three events with his best result, an 8th place coming from his 400 metres
freestyle, with a time of 5mins 07.11secs. Chris’s PB time of 26.70 was the fastest of all the 15 year
old boys, though not quite quick enough to get him into strong Open age group final. He also had a
strong 200 metres freestyle swim, improving on his previous best by several seconds to clock a time
of 2mins 09.08secs.
Well done to all.