Romford Town Swimming Club
established 1900
RTSC Gala Reports
Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th June - London Age Group Championships
National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace
This week saw Romford Town swimmers competing against the best of London in the first of two weekends of London District Championships. As always, there was a high contingent of Romford Town swimmers in attendance, competing in many finals and picking up medals.
The Breaststroke events proved very productive with two titles gained and several final placings. The girls started the ball rolling as Brock Whiston powered her way to 1st place in the 13 years 200m Breaststroke, having seen team mate Amy Harris take a very good 3rd place in the 12 years age group in the final beforehand. In the girls ten years age group two Romford swimmers lined up in the final, with Holly Hilldrew, despite reducing her heat time by five seconds, just being touched out into 2nd place and Hannah Binning taking a good 4th place finish. Sophie Ward ensured Romford had finalists in all of the girls 200m Breaststroke age groups as she did well to gain 6th spot in the 11 years final.
Kieran Gore produced a four second personal best time in reaching the final of the 11 years boys 200m Breaststroke and reduced this time by a further half a second in the final to take 1st place, nearly ten seconds inside the National Qualifying time. In the final of the boys ten year age group a further two Town swimmers battled it out with Sam Ellis taking 5th place with Aiden Jackson 6th.
In addition to the Breaststroke events, the 400 metre Freestyle proved successful for Town swimmers, too. Ten year old Holly Hilldrew gained her first London District title as she was 1st in her age group. 11 year old Sophie Ward gained a top 8 place finishing 7th in her age group, whilst Victoria Christmas just missed out on the medals in the 12 years 400 freestyle as she came 4th whilst Amy Harris was 8th.
In the boys 11 years age group 400m Freestyle, Kieran Gore gained a National Qualifying time and a silver medal whilst team mate Calum Connelly was just outside the medals and National Qualifying mark in 4th spot. Another Town swimmer just missing out on his National Time in the 400m Freestyle was 14 year old George Foley, who despite a very good swim and a three second personal best had to be content with the silver medal.
In the boys 200 metres Medley, Kieran Gore and Calum Connelly produced personal best times in the 11 years age group final with Kieran gaining 2nd place and Calum 4th. A further two Town swimmers battled it out in the final of the 14 years boys 200 IM with Harry Coker coming out on top finishing 5th with George Foley having to settle for 6th place. In the final of the ten years age group 200 metres Individual Medley, Sam Ellis and Mitchell Wilson represented Romford well also.
Holly Hilldrew continued her medal haul in the ten years 200 metres Backstroke. Having qualified for the final as fifth fastest a gutsy performance saw her take 2nd spot. Amy Harris swam well too to take 4th place in the 12 years 200 metres Backstroke. Kieran Gore was 8th in the final of the 11 years boys 200 metres Backstroke.
The 100 metres Butterfly saw Romford well represented in the finals and picking up medals. The girls once again were represented in all age group finals with Holly Hilldrew taking 2nd spot in the ten years age group 100 Butterfly and team mate Anna Manning, 6th. Sophie Ward was the 11 year old representative as she swam well to gain 4th place. Victoria Christmas and Bethany Moore battled it out in the 12 years 100 metres Butterfly as Victoria gained 5th place with Bethany 7th. 13 year old Brock Whiston took 5th place in her 100 metres Butterfly final.
11 year old Jack Ayling swam well to gain 2nd place in the final of the boys 100 metres Butterfly, whilst Calum Connelly having earlier competed in the 400m Freestyle did well in coming 7th. James Kidd was 5th in the final of the boys 13 years 100m Butterfly as Harry Coker was 6th in the 14 years Butterfly final. Ten year old Mitchell Wilson also did well in coming 4th in his 100 metres Butterfly final.
Kieran Gore kept the medals flowing as he was 2nd in the final of the 100 metres Freestyle with team mate Calum Connelly 6th.Mitchell Wilson was 7th in the final of the ten years 100 metres Freestyle whilst George Foley despite a personal best time had to settle for 4th place in the 14 years 100 metres Freestyle final. In the ten years girls 100 metres Freestyle final Holly Hilldrew had to be content with 5th spot whilst a personal best time for Bethany Moore saw her gain 7th in the 12 years age group.
In the relay events, Romford gained two top eight places. The 14 years and under boys 4 x 100 Freestyle relay team of George Foley, Harry Coker, Charles Sturley and Sam Bishop gained 5th spot. Rosie Webber, Amy Harris, Brock Whiston and Victoria Christmas were 7th in the girls 13 year and under 4 x 100 Medley relay. /p>
Well done to all that competed at the weekend.
Kevin Engstrom