RTSC Gala Reports

5th April 2008 - Essex League Division 1 - Rochford

Romford Town retained its Essex League Division One title in fine fashion at the weekend

The team had all but secured the title by winning the first three rounds of this years competition but wanted to retain the title by winning the fourth and final round.

The 11 years girls got the club off to a steady start in their 4 x 50 metres freestyle relay, as Sophie Thompson, Brock Whiston, Rosie Webber and Victoria Christmas were just narrowly beaten and had to settle for 2nd place. A position they repeated in the medley relay. Brock Whiston also picked up a good individual 2nd place in the 50 metres Breastroke.

The boy’s 11-year-old team went one better as the team of William Harding, Oliver Applebee, James Kidd and Sam Bishop won their medley relay. Whilst in their individual races, James Kidd came 2nd in the 50 metres Butterfly and Sam Bishop came 2nd in the 50 metres Freestyle.

With three senior girls missing from the team, it meant a couple of swimmers competing up an age group to help support Kira Fawke and Nicola Rees. Despite this the open ladies come out on top in their relays events. In the ladies open medley relay, 14 year olds Stevie Coker and Kelsey Richards joined Nicola and Kira, who with a very determined final freestyle leg grabbed 1st place. Nicole Raymond replaced Stevie in the freestyle relay to help the ladies team win this event too, but a lot more comfortably this time. Kira’s battling qualities were evident also in the ladies open 100 metres freestyle as a very determined last length ensured 1st place in her individual event. Jessica Coles also swimming up “an age” gained 1st place in the 100 metres Breastroke, whilst there were 2nd place finishes for Nicola Rees in the 100 metres Butterfly and a good 2nd place for Kelsey Richards in the 100 metres Backstroke.

For the open men’s events there was an equally impressive race and tight finish for Billy Tubbs in the 100 metres freestyle as a strong last length gained him 1st place. An equally strong last leg in the 4 x 50 freestyle relay contributed to helping his teammates, Grant Chandler, Sam Ward and Tom Ingram to 1st place, which the quartet repeated in the medley relay. Fine individual swims by Tom Ingram in the 100 metres Butterfly and Sam Ward in the 100 metres Backstroke helped the club gain maximum points in winning both these events.

The thirteen-year-old boys were in good form too as the quartet of Joseph Stamp, Sean Houlihan, Alfie Burr and Thomas Clark won both their medley and freestyle relays in great style. There were also impressive individual wins for Joseph in the 100 metres Backstroke, Sean in the 100 metres Breastroke and Thomas, 100 metres Butterfly.

Thirteen-year-old Jodie Momodu gained 1st place in her favourite 100 metres Breastroke and was joined by Jodie Ward, Hannah Coles and 11-year-old Sophie Thompson as the quartet gained valuable points in coming 3rd in the medley relay. Louise Harrington also gained 1st place as she convincingly won the 13 years 100 metres Butterfly.

In the fifteen years age group, maximum points were secured in winning both medley and freestyle relays by the boy’s quartet of Lewis Kidd, Jake Harrison, Chris Stamp and debutant Martin Butterworth. There were also individual wins for Jake Harrison in the 100 metres Breastroke and Chris Stamp in the 100 metres Freestyle.

The fifteen-year-old girls were in good form too, as Nicole Raymond won the 100 metres Freestyle, Jessica Coles took the honours in the 100 metres Breastroke and Kelsey Richards did likewise in the 100 metres Butterfly. Stevie Coker had to settle for 2nd spot in the 100 metres Backstroke. Louise Harrington, swimming “up an age” joined the trio of Nicole Raymond, Jessica Coles and Stevie Coker as they won the 4 x 50 freestyle relay, whilst another thirteen year old, Jodie Ward, replaced Nicole Raymond as the team gained 1st place in the medley relay.

The final event of the evening, the squadron relay ensured Romford retained this years Winter League title in grand fashion as the team of Brock Whiston, Sam Bishop, Louise Harrington, Sean Houlihan, Nicole Raymond, Chris Stamp, Nicola Rees and Sam Ward took 1st place.

Final Scores:

1. Romford Town 197
2. Chelmsford 159
3. Runnymede 147
4. Rochford 128
5. Phoenix of Basildon 93

Well done to all those that competed at this gala and all the other three rounds.