RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th April - Redbridge Sprint Meet - Fullwell Cross

Following last weekend’s exploits in deepest Somerset, Romford Town swimmers had a much shorter distance to travel for their latest competition. This time a less experienced team was earning valuable race experience with the added bonus of a good number of medal wins and Regional Qualifying Times.

Nine year olds Geogia Milton and Rebecca Cribb continued to show their potential with some outstanding swims. Georgia won gold medals in the 100m Individual Medley, 50m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke and silver medals in the 200m Individual Medley and 50m and 200m Backstroke. Teammate Rebecca also picked up six medals with her best performance coming in the 50m Backstroke where she just pipped Georgia in an exciting Romford Town 1-2. Some great PBs earned Rebecca bronze medals in 50m Butterfly and 200m Freestyle and 4th place medals in both the 100m and 200m Individulal Medleys and 50m Freestyle.

Our 9 year old boys also showed some good form with Harry Taylor 1st in the 200m Backstroke and 50m Freestyle, Jacob Smith 1st in the 50m Breaststroke and 5th in the 50m Freestyle, and Billy Wilson 3rd in the 50m Backstroke

The 10-11 year age groups were very tough and Stephanie Tomlinson swam very well to pick up bronze medals in the 100m and 200m Individual Medleys and 200m Backstroke. She also gained a 5th place medal in the 200m Breaststroke and 6th in the 50m Breaststroke. 10 year old Chloe Thompson was also in great form winning bronze in the 50m Freestyle and coming 5th in the 50m Backstroke and 6th place in the 50m Butterfly and although out of the medals over the longer distances she still managed to achieve her first London Region Qualifying Times in the 200m Backstroke and 200m Individual Medley.

Another Town ten year old who will be showcasing her talent at Crystal Palace is Megan Witton who achieved her first regional QT in the 200m Individual Medley. Hannah Binning, also 10, picked up a great 2nd place medal in the 50m Breaststroke. Relative newcomer Erin Corney, also only 10, continues to improve with every swim and did well to win medals for 4th place in the 50m Backstroke and 6th in the 50m Freestyle. Other Romford girls to be rewarded with medals for their efforts in this category were Amy Marren with 4th place in the 200m Backstroke, Anna Manning 4th in 200m Butterfly and Sarah Foley 6th in the 50m Backstroke.

The boys also had to work hard for their medals in this age group and Tommy Beardsell stepped up to the plate with a fantastic swim for 1st place in the 50m Freestyle. This followed good 5th place swims in the 200m Breaststroke and also in the 200m Backstroke where he also gained his first regional QT. 10 year old Mitchell Wilson was alson seeking Regional Qualifying Times and didn't disappoint,picking up a 3rd place medal in the 200m Butterfly and 4th place in the 200m Backstroke into the bargain. Further Town success came from Oliver Coles who was 5th in the 200m Butterfly and the 100m Individual Medley and Joshua Burcombe 4th in the 100m Butterfly.

12 year old Amy Harris continued her excellent recent form with gold medal swims in the 100m Breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley and silver medals coming from the 200m Breaststroke and 200m Backstroke.

Luke Sheridan is another Town 12 year old in good form and he did well to pick up medals for 4th place in the 50m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly and 5th place in the 100m Freestyle.

The 14 years and over category was perhaps the strongest of the lot and it was good to see three of our girls rewarded for their efforts in training as Charlotte Chuck (14) came 6th in the 200m Breaststroke, Shara Islam (15) 6th in the 100m Breaststroke and Gina Dickson (18) 6th in the 100m Freestyle.

16 year old Tom Clark picked up a bronze medal in the Open 100m Individual Medley, Alex Goodacre (15) 5th place in 100m Backstroke and David Ward (17) 6th place in 100m Butterfly and 100m Breaststroke.

Well done to all that swam.