RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November 2009 - London Winter Championships - Barnet Copthall

After last weekend’s success at Ipswich, this week the level of competition was cranked up another notch as a handful of Romford’s swimmers competed at the London Region Winter Short Course Championships at the Barnet Copthall pool. This Senior/Junior event was a good early season test both physically and mentally for the Town swimmers, with many taking on older opponents.

18 years old Daniel Stepton got proceedings underway with a solid performance over 200 metres Freestyle finishing in 5th, for Town’s first Top Ten finish. His time of 1min 56.96secs was not only a little outside of his best, but was also only 0.11secs away from the bronze medal in an excitingly close finish.

There were PB swims from both 17 years old Jake Harrison and 14 years old Sean Houlihan in the 200 metres Breaststroke where, despite such strong opposition, both sneaked into the Senior final. Whilst they were unable to improve further on their earlier performances they had already surpassed expectations. They finished 6th and 8th respectively.

Romford’s first medal came unexpectedly in the womans 200 metres Butterfly event. It came as a surprise as 14 years Elena Sheridan had not swum for nearly two weeks, having been out of the water ill with flu. Though clearly still under the weather she was determined to compete in her favourite event. As expected, she was a little short of her best as a fully healthy Sheridan would have been vying for gold. She was still able to put up enough of a fight over the last 25 metres in the final to hold off a fierce challenge to grab the bronze medal on the touch.

Another bronze medal quickly followed as Stepton again came close to his best to take 3rd place over 50 metres Freestyle. Seeded outside of the medals, he got off to a blistering start but this time he snatched the verdict in a blanket finish.

Harriette Davis was a little out of sorts on her main Backstroke events, but more than made up on her Freestyle swims. A shoulder injury, picked up at school more than six weeks ago, has restricted her training since and although causing some concern did not stop her from lowering her best over 1500 metres Freestyle by a full fifteen seconds to take 6th place in the Junior competition, with a time of 18mins 18.37secs.

The afternoon session kicked off with another 5th place for Stepton, this time over 100 metres Freestyle. Seeded 10th coming in to the event, he had already done well to reach the final against some strong senior competition. Lying 6th at the mid-point, he launched another late attack which improved his standing and gave him a PB time of 53.23secs.

16 years old James Davis had been unable to replicate last weekend’s sub 2mins 200 metres Freestyle swim as a tough week of training had taken its toll. He did show what a gritty competitor he is as a 400 metres Freestyle time of 4mins 12.69secs was good enough for 5th fastest junior.

Romford’s youngest swimmer, 12 years old Brock Whiston had found the pressure of this senior competition tough going in her earlier 200 metres Butterfly and IM events, but was more settled over her main 400 metres IM swim. Her time of 5mins 28.52sec was just shy of her best, but elevated her into the top ten.

The excitement continued on day two as Stepton came close to securing his and Town’s first win in the mens 100 metres Backstroke. Having comfortably secured his berth in the final he followed this with another top drawer performance over 200 metres IM, setting the 3rd fastest time of the morning. He decided to withdraw from this final to concentrate his efforts on the Backstroke event. After a powerful start he seemed to have the race sown up having taken the advantage off the last turn only to relinquish first place on the last stroke, missing out on the title by only 0.04secs. He took the silver with a time of 58.02secs.

Romford’s youngest male swimmer, 13 years old Harry Coker, was not overawed by the occasion as he set a new PB time of 2mins 24.43secs in the 200m Butterfly.

Feeling the effects of the previous days 1500 metres swim and some way short on fitness, Harriette Davis still managed a top ten place over 800 metres. After a confident start she was unable to sustain the good early pace to finish but still finished with a PB time of 9mins 36.39secs.

There was a PB too for Alfie Burr in the boys event as he held off a strong challenge from Waltham Forest’s Oliver Burling, to take the Junior bronze. His time of 9mins 04.94secs was twelve seconds faster than his previous best.

The effects of several heats and finals swims in each of the previous 3 sessions were beginning to take their toll on Daniel Stepton though he did well to hold out for 3rd place over 200 metres Backstroke. His time of 2mins 08.25secs was only a couple of seconds off his best.

Harriette Davis seeded 14th in the 400m Freestyle, continued to improve and whilst she had little left for the sprint finish she still took a full second off her previous best to move up the rankings to 9th spot.

There was a top ten spot too for Alfie Burr in the days final event, the men’s 400m IM, as he again lowered his best, this time by 6secs, to set a time of 5mins 01.80secs. In the fastest heat James Davis, after a cautious opening Butterfly leg, began to pick off his rivals one by one over the Backstroke and Breaststroke to draw level with Beckenham’s, Michael Gunning with only the 100m Freestyle to go. Despite another valiant Romford effort Davis had to settle for the silver as Gunning, winner of the 1500 the previous day, just took the decision.

Well done to all