RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 8th May - Essex Mini League - Great Dunmow

Town got their Essex Mini League season off to an encouraging start with a solid second place at Great Dunmow. A final points tally of 167 is often enough to secure a win, but five "time-faults" and three disqualifications prevented any real challenge to Colchester for top place.

Town were playing catch-up from the start when Katie Trott produced a 3-second PB to earn our first "time-fault" in the Girls 11 and under 50m Backstroke and the Boys quartet of 9 year olds, Jack Rice, Jack Whitehead, David Brooks and Jacob Smith, also smashed the cut-off time in their Breaststroke relay.

Rebecca Cribb and Luke Harris got the scoreboard moving with good wins in the 10 and unders 50m Backstroke events. There was a win, too, for 12 year old Jodi Whitehead in the Girls 13 and under 100m Freestyle and a great 12-second PB for Tommy Beardsell (also 11) brought him 3rd place in the Boys event.

As is now customary, the Butterfly events saw Town scoring well and Amy Harris (12) and Tom Benson (14) swam to impressive wins in the Open 50m events.

Emerging talent, Georgia Milton (9) was a clear winner in the Girls 10 and under 50m Breaststroke and Maddie Webber and Oliver Coles did well to achieve second places in the 11 and under 50m Breaststroke events.

There was a win for the Girls team of Gina Dickson, Stephanie Tomlinson, Laura Brooks and Shara Islam in the Open Freestyle relay and 3rd place for Andrew Ward, Conor Toolis, Michael Fearon and Joshua Burcombe in the Boys Open Freestyle relay.

In the Girls 10 and under Freestyle event Rebecca Cribb (10 Today!) took second place, whilst the fast-improving Jacob Smith (9) was a winner for the Boys event. Hannah Dearman-Tur continues to grow in confidence with every swim and her stylish win in the Girls 11 and under 50m Freeestyle was a joy to watch. Luke Harris (10) also swam well for second in the Boys race.

There was a 3rd place for Shara Islam in the Girls Open 50m Backstroke and 2nd place for Tom Benson in the Boys event. Anne-Marie Smith finished second in the Girls 13 and under 50m Breaststroke.

Billy Wilson Luke Harris, Oliver Coles, Sam Hollington, Conor Toolis and Andrew Ward combined to take first place in the Boys Squadron Butterfly Relay and maximum points were also achieved in the Girls 11 and under Freestyle relay with Ellie Harris, Jessica Watts, Hannah Dearman-Tur and Katie Trott taking first place. Great swimming by the Boys foursome of Zac Coleman, Robert Benson, Oliver Coles and Tommy Beardsell only earned them a time fault.

Ellie Harris (11) was a winner in the Girls 13 and under 50m Backstroke, whilst Sam Hollington (12) was second. Conor Toolis managed 3rd place in the Boys Open 100m Freestyle races.

Hannah Okunwobi was enjoying her competitive swimming debut and she joined Georgia Milton, Emily Watts and Jessica Ayling for a good runners up spot in the 9 year old Girls Freestyle Relay. The Boys did even better with David Brooks, Jack Whitehead, Billy Wilson and Jacob Smith achieving a fine first place.

More fantastic Fly swims followed with Megan Witton and Jack Rice (9) winning their 10 years and under 25m Fly events. Stephanie Tomlinson and Joshua Burcombe (both 11) did likewise in the 13 and under 50m Butterfly events and Erin Corney (10) and Zac Coleman both smashed their PBS to achieve time faults in the 11 and under events.

The Squadron Breaststroke relay saw another win for Jessica Ayling, Erin Corney, Ellie Harris, Laura Brooks, Shara Islam and Amy Harris and second place for the Boys team of Jack Rice, Liam Fearon, Zac Coleman, Tommy Beardsell, Tom Benson and Michael Fearon.

The Open 50m Breaststroke swims brought a 2nd place for Laura Brooks (13) and a 3rd place for Michael Fearon

The 13 and under Girls Freestyle relay saw Amy Harris, Anne-Marie Smith, Jessica Watts and Jodi Whitehead claim second spot, whilst the night ended with two Town wins in the 10 and under Freestyle relays with Rebecca Cribb, Erin Corney, Megan Witton and Georgia Milton in action for the girls and Luke Harris, Liam Fearon, Billy Wilson (9) and Jack Rice going for the boys.

Final Result:

1. Colchester 181
2. Romford 167
3. Harwich 131
4. Dunmow 121
5. Saffron Waldon 66

Well done to all.