Romford Town Swimming Club
established 1900
RTSC Gala Reports
28th/29th October 2007 - Ipswich Junior Open Meet - Crown Pools
Romford retained the top visiting club trophy for the third year running at Ipswich
Romford retained the top visiting club trophy for the third year running at Ipswich in what proved to
be a very good weekend of competition for all concerned. For many it was the opportunity to gain County
Age Group qualifying times whilst for George and Kaitlin Hunter it was a fond farewell as they competed
for the last time under Romford Town colours before emigrating to New Zealand on Tuesday.Romford were
eventual winners of the top visiting club trophy by over 80 points and had three swimmers in contention
for the top swimmer category.
Ten-year-old Brock Whiston was third in the girls category, whilst George Hunter was third in the boys.
However, nine-year-old Frank McGuirk was only just behind in fourth spot having gained six gold medals
across the two days of competition.
Frank produced some great swims in winning the 50 metres backstroke and 50 metres breastroke, where
teammate Sam Coker gained third. In the longer 200 metres distances, Frank proved just as strong in
gaining 1st in the 200 metres Freestyle and Individual Medley events where he was joined by another
teammate, Toby Mascall who was 4th in both. Frank also went on to win the 200 metres backstroke and 50
metres Butterfly in which Toby gained 4th also. The two were also 3rd and 4th respectively in the 50
metres freestyle. Jonathan Toolis gained a good third place in the 200 metres breastroke.
Gaining medals for the nine year old girls were Bethany Moore, Sophie Ward and Kaitlin Hunter.
In the 50 metres freestyle, Bethany was 2nd and Sophie 3rd. Bethany was also 2nd in the 50 metres
backstroke. In the 200 metres breastroke, Sophie Ward was 5th and Kaitlin Hunter 6th, whilst Kaitlin
also managed 4th in the 50 metres breastroke. Sophie was 5th in the 200 individual medley and 6th in
the 200 metres backstroke.
In the ten years girls’ category, Brock Whiston was also collecting gold medals as she amassed four to
her name. The first came in the 200 metres backstroke, where Rosie Webber had a great swim too, to gain
2nd place with another teammate, Victoria Christmas, 6th. The trio were in the top six positions again
in the 200 metres Individual Medley with Brock coming 1st, Victoria 5th and Rosie 6th. Brock also took
two gold’s in her favoured breastroke, winning both the 50 and 200 metre distances. In the 200 metres
freestyle she came 2nd whilst in the shorter 50 metre event she gained 4th.In the 50 metres Butterfly,
Rosie Webber gained 4th spot, with Brock in 5th and the placing’s were reversed in the 50 metres
backstroke with Brock 4th and Rosie 5th.
In the boys ten years age group, Sam Bishop had some good swims and showed great consistency as he
gained 3rd place in the following events: 50 & 200 metres freestyle, 50 & 200 metres backstroke, 50
& 200 metres breastroke and the 200 metres Individual Medley.Sam was also 2nd in the 50 metres Butterfly
and 4th in the 200 metres Backstroke. There was a 3rd place finish too for Luke Sheridan in the 200
metres Butterfly.
Harry Coker produced two very good swims to gain 1st place in the 11 years 200 metres Individual Medley
(in which George Ellis was 6th) and 1st in the 200 metres Breastroke. Harry was also 2nd in the 200
metres Butterfly in which George Ellis gained 5th spot and Aiden Jackson 6th. Harry gained another
2nd place in the 50 metres Butterfly, where George was 4th. In the 50 metres Backstroke, George was 5th
and Harry 6th, whilst Harry also picked up a 5th spot in the 50 metres freestyle. Oliver Applebee took
5th spot in the 11 years 50 metres Breastroke.
For the 11-year-old girls, Elena Sheridan showed some great speed in winning the 50 metres Butterfly
but had to be content with 2nd in the 200 metres event. She came 2nd in the 200 metres Breastroke and
Individual Medley also, which was followed by a 3rd in the 200 metres freestyle and 5th in the 200
Backstroke.
Twelve-year-old George Hunter was out to impress in his last competition before moving to New Zealand.
With a very busy schedule of events he set about his task well by winning the 100 and 200 metres
Breastroke. He gained his third gold of the weekend in a gutsy 200 metres Individual Medley race. There
was also 2nd place finishes in the 100 & 200 Butterfly, 100 & 200 Backstroke and a third in the 100
freestyle.Competing against George was teammate, Joseph Stamp who swam well too as he collected medals
in the 200 metres backstroke, in which he came third and the 200 metres Individual Medley & 100 metres
Freestyle where he was 4th. Michael Fearon did well in coming 6th in the 100 metres Breastroke.
Bethany Hall was a medallist in the girl’s 12 years age group as she was third in the 100 Butterfly
and 200 metres Breastroke. She was also 4th in the 100 metres Breastroke & 200 Individual Medley and
6th in the 100 metres backstroke.
Sian Aston and Kelsey Richards gained a gold medal each in the 14 years category with Sian taking the
honours in the 200 metres Breastroke, whilst Kelsey took 1st place in the 200 metres Butterfly.Kelsey
went on to come 3rd in the 200 metres Individual Medley, 4th in the 200 metres Freestyle and 5th in the
100 metres Butterfly. Sian Aston was 4th in the 100 metres Breastroke. Andrew Ward gained a 3rd place
finish in the 200 metres Butterfly.
15-year-old Jessica Coles swam to a personal best time as she won the 100 metres Butterfly and gained
another gold in the 100 metres Breastroke. Her hatrick of gold medals came in the 200 metres individual
medley whilst also collecting 2nd in the 200 metres Breastroke and 3rd in the 200 metres Butterfly.
In the boys 16 years age group Billy Coker was 2nd in the 100 metres Breastroke and 3rd in the 100
metres freestyle.
Well done to everyone that competed there were some terrific performances and many County qualifying
times achieved.