RTSC Gala Reports

8th October - Essex Mini League - Loughton

Town's youngsters concluded their Mini League season in fine style with another gala win and a host of PBs.

Although only recently back in full training and with most of their focus still on technique, Romford's swimmers combined good strokes with strength and power to produce some terrific swimming. None more so than Falon Wilson who smashed the clock with a great personal best time in the Girls 11 and under 50m Backstroke. Our first points of the evening came in the boys event where Alex Drury also recorded another but PB, but just avoided the "cut-off" to claim maximum points with a win.

The 9 year old Girls Breaststroke Relay team of Emily Milton, Kacey Harrold, Molly Bath and Georgia Marren were also time faulted after swimming impressively. The girls were, however, later reward with maximum points in their Freestyle Relay. James Cooper, Reed Mansell, Jude Ward and Lawrie Arrowsmith achieved a good second place in their Breaststroke Relay and, like the girls, went on to win their Freestyle Relay with Ben Drury replacing Cooper.

Eloise Dietz picked up a good second place in the Girls 10 and under 50m Backstroke, before 9 year old Jude Ward's fine swim earned a time-fault in the Boys race. A very impressive swim from 12 year old Victoria Bishop won the 13 and under Girls 100m Freestyle, with Tommy Beardsell, also 12, winning the Boys event.

11 year old Chloe Thompson and 13 year old William Manning contested the Open 50m Butterfly events with both achieving commendable second places.Jessica Beardsell took a full second off of her time to win the Girls 10 year old 50m Breaststroke, whilst 9 year old James Copper claiming third in the Boys event.

The 11 and under 50m Breaststroke events saw a time-fault for the fast-improving Anna Manning and a good win for Elias Chung

Stephanie Tomlinson, Charlotte Chuck, Abbie Harrold and Victoria Bishop swam to third place in the Girls Open Squadron Freestyle Relay, as did Ryan Ross, Jonathan Toolis, Tommy Beardsell and David Slipaitis in the Boys race.

The 10 and under 50m Freestyle events brought a first place from Molly Bath (9) and a time-fault for Joe Groves who continues to improve with each swim. The same can be said for Falon Wilson and Matt Juggins who were 1st and 2nd respectively in the 11 and under Freestyle events.

The Girls Open 50m Backstroke event was impressively won by 13 year old Stephanie Tomlinson with David Slipaitis 2nd in the Boys race. The 13 and under Breaststroke events were both well won by Ellie Harris and Jonathan Toolis.

The Butterfly Squadron Relays brought maximum points with comfortable wins by Georgia Marren, Fern Stuart, Megan Witton, Anna Manning, Chloe Thompson and Stephanie Tomlinson for the Girls and Joseph Lomas, James Cooper, Oliver Bath, William Manning, Oliver Coles and Ryan Ross for the Boys.

No points were scored in the 11 and Under 4 x 1 Relays with Anna Manning, Chloe Thompson, Falon Wilson and Lauren Levell (10) swimming for the Girls and Oliver Bath, Elias Chung, Alex Drury and Matt Juggins for the Boys.

The Girls 13 and under 50m Backstroke saw Sarah Foley gain second place with a good PB time, before William Manning's return to fitness and form produced a fantastic two-second PB and a time-fault in the Boys event.

The Open 100m Freeestyle events featured Charlotte Chuck and Ryan Ross, two swimmers who were late to discover competitive swimming, but who through hard work and committment have caught up fast and their wins here were very impressive. Ross's eight second personal best time was probably the swim of the night amongst so many good swims.

Georgia Marren and Joe Lomas earned second and first place respectively in the 10 and under 25m Butterfly events, before Fern Stuart and Joseph Lomas both earned third and first in the 10 and under 50m Butterfly.

A second place swim came from the Girls Squadron Breaststroke Relay team of Kacey Harrold, Emily Milton, Anna Manning, Ellie Harris, Charlotte Chuck and Victoria Bishop. The Boys went one better with Reed Mansell, James Cooper, Alex Drury, David Slipaitis, Jonathan Toolis and Ryan Ross doing the honours.

12 year old Megan Witton won the Girls 13 and under 50m Butterfly before further big PBs from Chuck and Ross earned first and third in the Open 50m Breaststroke.

The 13 and under Freestyle Relays brought a second place swim from Ellie Harris, Megan Witton, Sarah Foley and Victoria Bishop and a win for Oliver Coles, William Manning Tommy Beardsell and Jonathan Toolis.

Victories from Eloise Dietz, Lauren Levell, Jess Beardsell and Fern Stuart, then Joe Lomas, Joe Groves, Ben Drury and James Cooper in the concluding pair of 10 and under Freestyle Relays saw Town end the night as impressive winners.

Gala result:

1. Romford Town 177
2. Braintree 140
3. Clacton 131
4. Witham 124
5. Havering Dolphins 87

Well done to all those that performed so well