RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December - London Winter Championships - Crystal Palace National Sports Centre

Romford Town swimmers followed up their successes at the previous County Championships the previous weekend with some very strong performances at the London Regional Winter Championships at Crystal Palace.

16 years old George Foley narrowly missed a medal and his first NQT of the season over 1500 metres Freestyle. He finished 4th in both senior and junior categories though with a PB time of 16mins 54.98secs.

16 years old Elena Sheridan was first to strike gold, a double, with a comfortable win in her main event the 200 metres Butterfly. Team mate, 15 years old Brock Whiston , was 3rd fastest junior with a PB time of 2mins 27.93secs, only a second shy of another NQT to add to the two gained last time out. There was also a gritty PB swim from 15 years old Rosie Webber whose time of 2mins 32.80secs made it three Town swimmers in the same final.

Sheridan was back to claim two more titles within 10 minutes as she took both senior and junior crowns in the 200 metres IM.

There was much of the same as we moved into the Saturday afternoon session, with more medals for Sheridan and Whiston. Sheridan’s next double win came in the 400 metres IM with the younger Whiston again taking bronze in the junior category. Shortly after Sheridan added both titles in the ladies 100 metres Butterfly event, easing clear over the closing stages to bag wins seven and eight.

Sunday also started brightly for Sheridan where seeded only 4th in the 200 metres Freestyle she turned in a stunning swim to take a double victory in a PB time of 2mins 05. 67secs. With only one race between this and the final of the Ladies 200 metres Breaststroke she was again back for the start within 10 minutes. To everybody’s surprise she produced another life time best to secure trophies eleven and twelve with a winning time of 2mins 38.56secs. Whiston again bettered her best ever with a time of 2mins 43. 04secs just missed out on a medal, finishing in 4th place.

There were other strong swims from George Foley and 15years old Charles Sturley, both doing well to make it through to the men’s 200 metres Butterfly final. Though both were some way out of the medals Sturley had the stronger final swim of the two setting a PB time of 2mins 19.66secs.

In the final session of the weekend a tired but spirited swim over 400 metres Freestyle brought Sheridan her last medals, both silver. The tough weekend schedule had caught up with her and she was forced to withdraw from the 100 metres Breaststroke final. A tired Whiston was unable to step up and a disappointing performance on this occasion saw her finish outside of the medals.

It was, however, a great weekend of swimming with many of Town’s younger swimmers coming away with new PBs.

Well done all.