RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June - London Age Group Championships
National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace

Romford Town swimmers started from where they left off after the first weekend of District Championships with some super performances again.

The 200 metres Butterfly this weekend harvested a host of finalists, medals, National Qualifying Times and a District title. The District title came in the shape of ten year old Holly Hilldrew, who though swimming with a swollen eye (sustained in a freak accident the day before) showed great determination in the final.Turning with 50 metres to go, Holly was ten metres down, but overhauled her rival to take 1st place. Team mate Anna Manning was just outside the medals as she gained a very good 4th place finish.

Sophie Ward competing in the 11 years 200 metres Butterfly also gained a good 4th place in her age group category. For the 13 year old girls, Brock Whiston swam a great race to take 2nd spot in a National Qualifying time.

In the 11 years boys 200 metres Butterfly final two Romford swimmers lined up together, Jack Ayling and Calum Connelly. Calum having just missed out on his national qualifying time for this event by four tenths of a second in the heats was determined to reach the mark, but surprised everyone by gaining the qualifying time by over seven seconds in the final to take 2nd place. Jack Ayling, swimming below par, had to settle for 3rd place, outside his personal best, but still four seconds inside the National Qualifying time.

Another Romford swimmer gaining a National Qualifying time in the 200 metres Butterfly was 14 year old Harry Coker who with a time of 2:18.96 was 2.5 seconds inside the time. Harry was 3rd in the final of this event with George Foley coming 7th. James Kidd lined up alongside Charles Sturley in the final of the 13 years 200 metres Butterfly, with James swimming very well to gain 3rd place and Charles close behind in 4th position only to be later disqualified for a turning infringement.

Another tough event, the 400 metres Individual Medley proved just as successful for Town swimmers at the weekend, with some more good results. Brock Whiston swam another strong race to take 1st place in the girls 13 years 400 individual medley, but in a time just outside the National Qualifying time. Holly Hilldrew made the pain of swimming with a black eye all the more sweeter as she gained 2nd place in the 10 years event and was joined by three other team mates in the top eight, with Anna Manning taking 4th spot, Hannah Binning 6th and Victoria Bishop 7th. Sophie Ward representing the 11 year olds was 5th in her individual medley.

In the boys 11 years 400 metres Individual Medley Calum Connelly and Kieran Gore were battling it out with Kieran coming out on top taking the silver medal, with Calum just missing out on the medals in 4th. Both swimmers setting personal best times, however, were well inside their National Qualifying time.

Harry Coker competing in the 14 years 400 metres individual medley was in amongst the medals again, producing a very good personal best time to take 3rd place as team mate George Foley was 6th. Ten year old Mitchell Wilson was 5th in his 400 metres medley.

In the final of the 10 years boys 100 metres Breaststroke three Romford swimmers lined up as Aiden Jackson gained joint 3rd place, with Sam Ellis close behind in 5th and Mitchell Wilson 6th. Kieran Gore competing in the final of the 11 years age group 100 metres Breaststroke, despite a personal best time, had to settle for 2nd place.

There were another three Romford swimmers in the final of the ten year old girls 100 metres Breaststroke as Holly Hildrew was 5th, Hannah Binning 6th and Victoria Bishop 8th. Competing in the 12 years 100 metres Breaststroke final Amy Harris gained a further medal to add to the one she earned the previous week, in the 200 metres, as another fine swim saw her gain a very good bronze medal.

Amy was joined by team mates Bethany Moore, Sophie Ward and Victoria Christmas as the quartet combined forces to compete in two terrific relays.In the 4 x 50 metre Freestyle relay the girls took a very good 2nd place to the strong borough squad of Camden Swiss Cottage. Though in the 4 x 50 medley team, Bethany (back) Amy (breast) Sophie (fly) and Victoria (crawl) went within a whisker of taking gold, but once again were beaten by Camden by just 8 hundredths of a second.

The boys 12 and under relay team did well too, as Luke Sheridan, Kieran Gore, Calum Connelly and Jack Ayling were 5th in both the Medley and Freestyle relays.

There were other notable performances and races at the weekend. The 11 years boys 200 metres Freestyle saw Kieran Gore just narrowly miss out on another National Qualifying time by just 3 hundredths of a second having to be content with 3rd place. Calum Connelly having qualified for the final in 8th place was pleased with his swim as he gained three places to take 5th spot in the final. Mitchell Wilson took 7th place in the 10 years boys 200 metres Freestyle

Holly Hilldrew was 4th in the girls 10 years age group 200 metres Freestyle. Bethany Moore did well to come 7th in the final of the 12 years and was 8th in the final of the 100 metres Backstroke. Holly Hilldrew was 4th in the girls 10 years 100 metres Backstroke.

There were some mixed results in the 800 metres Freestyle. A week’s trip to Italy hampered George Foley’s attempt at qualifying for Nationals this season having to settle for 4th place in the 14 years age group. Brock Whiston was also 4th in the 13 years age group and there were top eight finishes for Victoria Christmas, 6th in the 12 years girls age group and Sophie Ward, 7th in the 11 years girls age group.

Individual 'BAGCAT' awards went to the following:

• Ten Year Girls:
• Holly Hilldrew - 2nd
• Hannah Binning - 7th
• Victoria Bishop - 8th
• Ten Year Boys:
• Mitchell Wilson - 7th
• Eleven Year Girls:
• Sophie Ward - 8th
• Eleven Year Boys:
• Kieran Gore - 2nd
• Calum Connelly - 4th
• Twelve Year Girls:
• Amy Harris - 6th
• Bethany Moore - 7th
• Thireen Year Girls:
• Brook Whiston - 5th
• Fourteen Year Boys:
• George Foley - 6th

Well done to all those that competed at this year's District Age Group Championships. This year's performances once again placed Romford as one of the top age group clubs in London.

Kevin Engstrom