RTSC Gala Reports

3rd August to 7th August 2010 - National Age Group Championships - Ponds Forge, Sheffield

Romford Town's Youth swimmers followed up last week's success by the Age Groupers with more accomplished performances at this year's National Championship competition, at Sheffield's, Ponds Forge Pool.

14 years old Elena Sheridan, competing in the joint 14/15 years age group got off to a remarkable start in the very first event with a five seconds PB of 5mins 02.55secs over 400 metres Individual Medley. This, the first of an impressive four days for her, was followed just two events later with a PB of 2mins 18.24secs in her main 200 metres Butterfly event.

Finding herself in the evening Individual Medley final she preferred to hold a little back here as her Butterfly semi-final followed almost immediately. This decision paid dividends as she lowered her Butterfly best by nearly a full second, powering her way into Day 2's final.

Having had much of his season disrupted by illness and the added pressure of A Level exams, 18 years old Daniel Stepton started his five day programme a little less confidently. Nevertheless he produced a solid performance over 100 metres Backstroke that set him up for better to come.

Stepton started Day 2 with his first PB, as he led the way in his heat to win with a time of 53.76secs. He followed this with another mature swim in the 200 metres Individual Medley.

14 years old, Bethaney Hall, having qualified to the National's for the first time in two years was clearly nervous, though will have gained invaluable experience from her 200 metres Breaststroke swim.

Sheridan, who has more experience at performing on this stage, started from where she left off the day before, setting another five seconds PB in her 200 metres Breaststroke swim. Her time of 2mins 42.35 bettered the Essex County Junior Long Course Record that had stood since 1996 and it took her through to the evening semi. There were more records set in the evening as she lowered both the County Junior Record over 200 metres Butterfly for the third time in two days and set her first Senior County Record with a time of 2mins 16.64secs. This secured her a hard fought bronze medal, less than 0.2sescs away from silver.

17 years old James Davis, had chosen to divide his training time over the latter part of the season, preferring to concentrate on triathlons. Despite a gritty swim he was, as expected, a little down on his best, finishing with a time of 17mins 02.31secs.

On Day 3, Stepton lowered his 200 Backstroke time for the fourth time in a row to 2mins 12.53secs to just outside of his seasons best. Sheridan stormed her way into the evening semi of the 100 metres Butterfly with yet another Junior County Record and from there safely navigated her way to the final.

There was more excitement on Day 4 as Stepton again got the ball rolling with an impressive winning heat swim in the 200 metres Freestyle with a season's best time of 1min 57.9secs over. Sheridan took her eye off the ball momentarily and finished a little off her best over 200 metres Individual Medley before normal business was resumed with a PB over 100 metres Breaststroke.

17 years old Jake Harrison, having qualified to his first National tournament, like Hall a couple of days earlier succumbed to the pressures of the occasion though will also have gained invaluable experience for next time.

Having already surpassed expectations by reaching the 100 metres Butterfly final, Sheridan had one last surprise up her sleeve. In finishing in 8th place in a very close final swim her time of 1min 03.70secs made her Essex's fastest ever 100 metres Butterfly swimmer as she notched up her second Essex Senior County Record.

Stepton rounded up the last day of competition with a PB time of 24.90secs over 50 metres Freestyle, dipping under the 25secs barrier for the first time.

Very well done to all.