RTSC Gala Reports

Sunday 23rd May - Junior Swimming League - Waltham Forest

Sunday saw Romford’s youngsters competing in the second round of this year’s Junior Speedo League competition.

Following the club's good performance in round one, where they finished second, they were drawn against the winners of the other pool of clubs competing in division one of the M11 region, Kingston upon Thames. A high finishing position in this round would ensure they get a good seeding in the third and final round of this year’s regional event. All swimmers therefore set about their task with great vigour.

The first two events of the afternoon set the scene for what proved to be a very successful afternoon of racing. First up were the 12 year girl’s Medley team of Amy Harris, Jodi Whitehead, Stephanie Tomlinson and Bethany Moore who romped home in 1st place by almost three seconds. The same quartet was to repeat the same feat later in the 4 x 25 Freestyle relay.

In the second event of the afternoon the boys 12 years Medley relay, Sam Hollington, Kieran Gore, Jack Ayling and Luke Sheridan gained a very good 2nd place.

This set the tone for the rest of the gala as Romford came away with 24 first place finishes and a further 15 second place finishes out of the 49 events contested. The ten year old girls made it a clean sweep of wins in this category as Holly Hilldrew and Hannah Binning won two individual races each. Holly picking up wins in the 50 metres Breaststroke and Butterfly with Hannah Binning doing like wise in the 50 metres Backstroke and Freestyle. Hannah and Holly were joined by team mates Victoria Bishop and Anna Manning where the girls went on to gain 1st places in the Medley and Freestyle relays.

Ten year old Mitchell Wilson ensured the girls didn’t get all the plaudits as he won both his individual events, the 50 metre Butterfly and 50 metre Freestyle. He was joined by Sam Ellis, Harry Taylor and Alex Drury as the quartet swam to second place in the medley relay and took 3rd spot in the freestyle team event.

The 11 year old boys nearly made it a clean sweep of events as Calum Connelly, Kieran Gore, Jack Ayling and Joshua Burcombe won both their Medley and Freestyle relays in convincing fashion. They followed this up with individual 1st place finishes for Kieran Gore, 50 metre Breastroke, Jack Ayling 50 metre Butterfly and Calum Connelly 50 metre Freestyle. Calum was also 2nd in the 11 years 50 metres Backstroke.

For the 11 year old girls, Sophie Ward took the honours with a fine win in the 50 metres Butterfly, but had to settle for 2nd in the 50 metre Freestyle. Amy Marren, just returning from a shoulder injury, was 2nd in the 50 metre Backstroke, whilst Holly Hilldrew swimming 'up an age' did well to gain 2nd place also. Sophie and Amy teamed up with their younger ten year colleagues, Anna Manning and Holly Hilldrew as they came 2nd in the 11 years Medley Relay. In the Freestyle relay, another couple of ten year olds Hannah Binning and Victoria Bishop replaced Anna and Holly where the team came 2nd again.

The nine year old boys were in top form at the weekend also with Jack Rice and David Brooks picking up a win each for their efforts. Jack's 1st place came in the 25 metres Breastroke, whilst David came 1st in the 25 metre Backstroke. Jack was also 2nd in the 25 metres Freestyle. In the nine years boys Medley relay, Jacob Smith and Billy Wilson joined David Brooks and Jack Rice to notch up another win for Town in the Freestyle relay. They gained 2nd spot in the Medley relay.

Emerging talent, Georgia Milton grabbed two impressive 1st place finishes for the nine year girls as she won the 25 metres Butterfly and Freestyle events. She was joined by Lorna Bo, Charlotte Gimbird and Hannah Okunwobi as the young quartet managed 3rd spot in the nine years Freestyle relay.

Following the 12 year girls impressive wins in their relay events they produced some good individual performances too. Jodi Whitehead swam to a personal best time to take 1st place in the 50 metres Breastroke whilst Bethany Moore gained 1st place in the 50 metres Freestyle. Amy Harris was just narrowly beaten into 2nd spot in the 12 years 50 metres Backstroke.

For the 12 years boys, Kieran Gore swimming up an age gained maximum points by winning the 50 metres Breastroke, as Luke Sheridan gained 2nd in the 50 metres Freestyle, whilst another 11 year old, Jack Ayling also swimming up an age took 2nd in the 50 metres Butterfly.

The last event of the gala, the Squadron Relay, saw the team of; Georgia Milton, David Brooks, Holly Hilldrew, Mitchel Wilson, Sophie Ward, Kieran Gore, Bethany Moore and Luke Sheridan gain another 2nd place finish.

The plethora of 1st and 2nd place finishes throughout the gala ensured Romford gained top spot overall with the following points score:

Final Scores:

1. Romford 240
2. Kingston Royals 223
3. Barnet 164
4. Anaconda 125
5. Chelsford 122
6. Greenwich Borough Mariners 120

This first place finish coupled with our second spot in the first round should ensure we go through to the final round seeded second, which will lead to a further afternoon of exciting racing. Well done to everyone that competed. Every point matters!