RTSC Gala Reports

22nd-26th July 2009 - National Age Group Championships - Ponds Forge, Sheffield

Two National Champions for proud Town

Romford's 13 years old swimmers Sean Houlihan and Elena Sheridan both turned in the performances of their lives to take Gold in their main events at this week's National Championships at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge Pool.

On Day One, Houlihan opened with a PB time of 2mins 35.81secs in the morning heats of the 200 metres Breaststroke, to qualify as second fastest to the evening final, behind Plymouths Niall Grant. Brimming with confidence, Houlihan let his intentions be known from the start as he powered out over the first 50 metres. He maintained his one stroke advantage at the half way turn and still held the lead at the 150 metres mark. A tired turn saw this advantage cut and as Grant moved on to his shoulder Houlihan responded, increasing his stroke rate over the last 25 metres to grab the title with a time of 2mins 33.40secs.

There were nervous opening swims from Sheridan and 12 years old Brock Whiston in the Girls 400 metres IM as both finished a little way outside of their best. Sheridan however, did show a glimpse of what was to come on Day 2, with a promising butterfly leg.

Not noted for her fast early morning swims, Sheridan raised a few eyebrows as she secured poll position with a PB time of 2mins 23.05secs in the 200 metres Butterfly. Houlihan bettered his best by two seconds over 200 metres IM to also secure his berth in the evening finals. Sheridan, the smallest swimmer in the Butterfly Final stuck to her game plan and was lying in second place for much of the first three quarters of the race. Nearly two seconds adrift with 50 metres remaining, she moved into top gear and with each stroke reduced the deficit between her and Newcastle’s, Phoebe Lenderyou. Sheridan pulled level with only 10 metres remaining as she kept her momentum to snatch the victory and the Gold medal with a time of 2mins 21.27secs.

Houlihan raised his game again with another PB in the IM final with a time of 2mins 19.19secs, which secured him 4th place. In the boys 200 metres Butterfly, 13 years old Harry Coker, who has had his preparation disrupted by a broken finger, had a gutsy swim to finish with a PB time of 2mins 24.75secs. The excitement of the occasion got the better of 12 years old Amy Gore in her 200 metres Breaststroke swim. Clearly determined to put in a strong performance she pushed the opening 50 metres much too hard and paid the price in the latter stages, finishing outside of her best.

On Day 3, there were mixed fortunes for Romford Town swimmers as Houlihan kept the ball rolling with another good swim, this time on his least favoured event the 200 metres Backstroke, though he was happy with a PB time of 2mins 24.43secs. Sheridan, however suffered from a bit of third day blues and whilst only a little outside of her best in the morning heats of the 100 metres Butterfly, she found herself tied for first reserve for the final. To establish who would be accepted to the final, should a competitor withdraw, Sheridan had to 'swim off'. Despite this race being little more than a half hour after her heat swim, she sliced nearly two seconds off her earlier performance to take the verdict with a PB time of 1min 05.79secs. This would have qualified her to the final as 4th fastest.

Day 4 got off to a promising start as Sean Houlihan powered to 1min 13.00secs over 100 metres Breaststroke to qualify comfortably to the evening final. Having improved his times over 800 metres Freestyle by leaps and bounds this season, he was keen to add this event to his schedule, to boost his overall ‘bagcats’ points standing. He did well to turn in a time of 9mins 19.90secs just a little adrift of his best, set only last month.In the final of the 100 metres Breaststroke, Houlihan again looked to stamp his mark as he took to the front at the mid-point. Despite a battling second length, four days of tough competition took its toll and he had to settle for 4th place. He nevertheless chalked up another PB with a time of 1min 12.14secs.

On the final day of the age group competition, Amy Gore got off to a good start with a long course PB in the 200 metres IM and Elena Sheridan came very close to equalling her best too. With the rigors of the week starting to catch up on Houlihan he remained focused and determined to add another good swim, in his last event the 400 metres IM. A very good start soon turned to disappointment as he took a gulp of water at the Back/Breaststroke turn. He was unable to recover from this and was unlucky not to get a second chance, finishing as first reserve for the final. Sean’s performances earned him the 7th place overall in the ‘BagCats’ in his age group.

An excellent five days of competition was rounded off with the Girls and Boys Medley relay events and Romford was represented by a team in both. The Girls team of Bethaney Hall, Amy Gore, Elena Sheridan and Victoria Christmas did well to improve by a second on their District qualifying time. The boys team of Joseph Stamp, Sean Houlihan, Harry Coker and Alfie Burr finished as the fastest London team, sneaking just inside the top 20.

An exceptional few days of swimming.

WELL DONE TO ALL