RTSC Gala Reports

17th/18th May 2008 - Rotherham Metro Open Meet - Sheffield

A small band of Romford Town swimmers travelled north at the weekend to compete at the Rotherham Metro Open Meet

Held at Sheffield’s, Ponds Forge 50 metre pool, this was a great opportunity to obtain valuable long course experience in preparation for the London District Championships in a few weeks time and the possibility to gain National Qualifying times. (NQT)

All swimmers grabbed the chance to excel, as big personal best times were gained and National Qualifying times achieved.

Following the long trip up Friday afternoon, the early Saturday morning start didn’t deter anyone as they set about achieving their objectives. First in to the water, 11 year old Brock Whiston, competing in the 200 metres individual medley won her heat by quite some margin, setting a personal best by some eight seconds to record a time just 4 tenths outside the national qualifying mark. This gained her 4th place in her age group.

Twelve year olds Bethany Hall and Elena Sheridan followed suit as both achieved personal best times, with Bethany finishing in 8th place, whilst Elena had to settle for 2nd spot just three tenths outside the relevant national mark.

Next it was the boys’ turn to open the weekend up with personal best times, as twelve year olds Joseph Stamp, Sean Houlihan, Harry Coker and thirteen year old Alfie Burr raced off in the 100 metres Butterfly. Sean Houlihan came out on top for the twelve year olds, as he gained, what was to be the first of eight National Qualifying times, over the weekend.With a time, one and half seconds inside the national mark he gained 3rd place with Harry Coker achieving a good PB in 5th and Joe Stamp also knocking seconds of his previous best to gain 6th place. Alfie Burr competing in the dual 13/14-year age group managed a terrific three-second PB also.

Joe Stamp was back in the water two events later competing in the 200 metres Backstroke as he swam several seconds faster than his previous best to gain 4th place.

Buoyed by her outstanding swim in her first race of the day, Brock Whiston set about gaining her first National Qualifying time of the season in her favourite event, 200 metres Breastroke. In a very gutsy display she knocked off four seconds from her previous long course time to gain 2nd spot and an NQT in a time over one second inside the qualifying standard.

In the 12-year age group category despite a personal best, Bethany Hall was just half a second outside her national time having to settle for 2nd place with Elena Sheridan taking 3rd spot.

The final event of the morning session saw Sean Houlihan, Alfie Burr and Harry Coker set about the 400 Individual Medley in determined mood. Alfie and Harry raced off together in the same heat, with Alfie not waiting around setting a huge personal best time to record 5th place in his age group. Sean, competing in the next heat produced a strong swim too as another PB was gained and an NQT by ten seconds as he won the twelve year age group.

With what seemed very little time between the morning and afternoon sessions, the twelve year old boys were soon back in the water battling it out in the shorter, 200 metre medley distance. A mix up with his entry cards meant Sean Houlihan having to race in the slower, first heat. Swimming out on his own he recorded another time inside the National Qualifying mark, settling for 2nd place. Joseph Stamp and Harry Coker lined up in the final heat together with each recording personal best times, as Harry came in 5th with Joe in amongst the medals in 3rd.

Testing out her sprinting ability, Elena Sheridan swam a very impressive 50 metre Butterfly as she won her age group in a time that had many of her older competitors raising their eyebrows.

Sean Houlihan's last event of the day, the 100 metres Breastroke saw him produce another strong display as a personal best time by almost a second saw him take 1st place inside the national mark for this event by nearly three seconds.

The final event of day one’s competition was the girls 400 metres Individual Medley. Brock Whiston gained 6th place in the eleven-year age group, followed by Bethany Hall who gained 4th spot in the 12 years age group. Elena Sheridan, also competing in the 12 years age group, set about lowering her previous best and National time. With a strong and battling display a seven second personal best time saw her take the silver medal but inside the national standard for this event by nearly ten seconds.

After a good night's rest and re-fuelling, Alfie Burr was first in the water on Sunday morning as he recorded a five second PB in the 200 metres individual medley.

Elena Sheridan, despite being drawn in lane 10, for the 100 metres Butterfy against her older opponents was not to be overawed as she swam a good race in gaining 1st place in her age group with a time almost three seconds inside the national qualifying standard.

Also drawn in an outside lane, was Sean Houlihan, where, from lane one he raced to another NQT in gaining 2nd place in the 100 metres freestyle.

Brock Whiston gained another PB in the eleven years 200 metres Backstoke, to take 5th spot.

Not long after his 100 metre freestyle success, Sean was back in the water competing in his favourite 200 metres Breastroke. Despite the weekend's exertions in winning this event he set a new personal best and some six seconds inside the national qualifying time for this event.

Elena Sheridan swam in the final event of session three, the 400 metres freestyle. Although not too familiar with this distance she was 3rd placed twelve year old.

By the final session of the weekend, swimmers would have been excused for a little fatigue, but there was still time for some excitement and further terrific performances. Sean Houlihan got the ball rolling, as drawn in lane one again he managed a further NQT in coming 2nd in the 100 metres backstroke.

Immediately after, Brock Whiston swam to a personal best time in the eleven years 100 metres Breastroke to gain 3rd place, whilst Bethany Hall gained a well-earned 1st place in the twelve-year age group with Elena Sheridan 4th.

In the boys 200 metres Butterfly, Harry Coker, Alfie Burr and Sean Houlihan were out to finish the weekend off in style. Harry was first to swim and in determined fashion he set out to get close to the National mark for this event. Pretty much swimming on his own and over two seconds faster than the time he posted the previous week, his impressive time was just outside the national mark, having to settle for 3rd place. In the next heat, Alfie Burr and Sean Houlihan, just recovering from his 100 metres backstroke, lined up in lanes one and two respectively. Sean led the way over the first 100 metres. Going stroke for stroke over the second 100, Alfie began to pull away in the last 25 metres to record a five second personal best with Sean just behind doing likewise.

Alfie’s time was enough to gain him 3rd placed 13 year old, whilst Sean, taking 2nd placed twelve year old also had the bonus of another NQT.

By the end of the last of four sessions, in addition to some terrific performances by all RTSC swimmers Elena Sheridan had done enough to gain top twelve-year-old girl.

It’s worth noting that all those that competed this weekend at Sheffield and producing personal best times have consistently been training six or more times per week all season.

Those achieving or getting close to National times have been regularly training seven times per week.

This doesn’t guarantee success, but goes a long way to achieving personal potential.

Well done to all those that competed.

Kevin Engstrom

Results