RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June - London Age Group Championships
National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace

The second of this year’s District Age Group Championships proved just as productive as last week’s as Town swimmers again excelled, coming away with several District Titles, Event Best Times and a host of medals and Top Eight/Final finishes.

The 200 metres Butterfly for the girls and boys proved a successful and productive event with swimmers representing Romford across the range of age groups:

13-year-old Elena Sheridan took the honours in fine style as she won her age group in an Event Best Time.

In the 12-year-old age group Brock Whiston and Rosie Webber made it through the heats to contest the final together. Both swimmers raised their game for the final as they reduced their heat times by four seconds. Brock swam a terrific race to take 1st place and the District title, just missing out on her National Qualifying time, whilst Rosie did equally well in gaining 4th place.

Two Town swimmers also contested the final of the 13 years Boys 200 metres Butterfly. Harry Coker having set a personal best time and National Qualifying time in the heats to qualify as fastest for the final, whilst Joe Stamp had set a personal best time to reach the final too. Harry couldn’t quite repeat his terrific time in the final and had to settle for 3rd place, whilst Joe gained a good 5th spot.

14 year old Alfie Burr was in good form too, as a personal best time helped him achieve a good 2nd place finish. Toby Mascall celebrating his 11th birthday earlier in the week swam well to gain 6th spot in the final of the 11 years Boys 200 metres Butterfly.

The 100 metres Breaststroke event proved just as successful for Town swimmers:

13-year-old Sean Houlihan was setting another Event Best Time as he stormed to victory in one of his favourite events. Kieran Gore continued his impressive form from the week before as he won the 10 year olds 100 metres Breaststroke event.

For the girls, 13 year old Bethaney Hall swam a strong final, but was just narrowly beaten into 2nd spot and Elena Sheridan, a little fatigued, from her 200 metres Butterfly final had to settle for 8th place in the final.

In the 12 years age group 100 metres Breaststroke Amy Gore gained 3rd place, just outside her National Qualifying Time, whilst Brock Whiston having just recovered from her 200 metres Butterfly celebrations had to settle for 8th place.

In the 400 metres Individual Medley 12 year olds Amy and Brock were battling it out again with Amy just narrowly beating Brock in winning the District title with Brock taking the silver medal.

Elena Sheridan swam a good race to gain 2nd spot in the 13 years age group event, whilst Victoria Christmas was 5th in the 11 years 400 metres Individual Medley.

The boys were well represented too in the 400 metres Medley event. Kieran Gore swam well to gain 2nd spot in the 10 years age group, whilst Harry Coker did likewise in the 13 years age group competition. Alfie Burr managed another personal best time and medal in gaining 3rd place in the 14 years category, whilst James Kidd was 4th in the 12 year old age group.

In the 200 metres Freestyle, ten-year-old Kieran Gore swam a terrific race as he secured his second title of the weekend in a new Event Best Time.

Sister, Amy having narrowly scraped into the final of the 12 years age group 200 metres Freestyle showed some battling qualities from lane 8 to gain a good 3rd place finish.

There were also final placings for Sophie Ward, as she came 4th in the 10 years 200 metres Freestyle, Victoria Christmas 7th in the 11 years age group, Bethaney Hall 5th in the 13 years age group and Alfie Burr 7th in the final of the 14 years 200 metres Freestyle.

Sean Houlihan was 2nd in the final of the 13 years 200 metres Freestyle, but went one better in the longer 800 metres distance as another National Qualifying time earned him a further District title.

Alfie Burr was 4th in the 14 years 800 metres Freestyle, whilst Brock Whiston gained herself another District medal with a good swim in gaining 3rd place in the 12 years category. A personal best time also took Victoria Christmas to 5th spot in the 11 years age group.

In the 100 metres Backstroke Victoria Christmas swam well to gain 3rd place, whilst Bethany Moore, having just made the 11 years final too, swam a great race to pick up 5th spot from an outside lane.

13-year-old Joseph Stamp gained a good 3rd place finish in his 100 metres Backstroke final, whilst Kieran Gore had to settle for 8th place in the 10 years age group final.

The final events of this year’s District Age Group Championships witnessed the 12 years and under relay competitions:

The Boys team of William Harding (Back), Kieran Gore (Breast), James Kidd (Butterfly) and Sam Bishop (Freestyle) swam well to gain 2nd spot in the 4 x 50 metre medley relay.

The Girls team of Victoria Bishop (Back), Amy Gore (Breast), Brock Whiston (Butterfly) and Emma Aston (Freestyle) were just outside the medals in 4th spot.

Following the two weekends of competition it was no surprise to see Romford Town swimmers well represented in the 'BagCat' awards - Given out to the top eight swimmers in each age group, the awards are based on swimmers performances across a range of events / disciplines in an attempt to measure their all round ability:

• Boys
• 10 years
• Kieran Gore - 1st
• 12 years
• James Kidd - 5th
• 13 years
• Sean Houlihan - 1st
• Harry Coker - 5th
• Joe Stamp - 6th
• 14 years
• Alfie Burr - 5th
• Girls
• 10 years
• Sophie Ward - 7th
• 11 years
• Victoria Christmas - 3rd
• 12 years
• Amy Gore - 1st
• Brock Whiston - 7th
• 13 years
• Elena Sheridan - 2nd
• Bethaney Hall - 8th

Well done to all those that competed this weekend and at this years Championships. Lets now start training for next years.

Through hard work and commitment let’s see how may Qualifying Times, Titles and 'BagCat'Awards can be achieved in 2010.

Kevin Engstrom