RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 14th March - Essex Mini League - Saffron Walden

Picking the team for the first gala of the Mini League season is always a tricky process, as it is difficult to exactly predict the level of progress of young swimmers since the previous Autumn. Swimmers developing faster than the average run a real risk of picking up 'time faults' and therefore scoring no points for the team. It's fantastic to see so many of our youngsters going so well, but the 8 "nil points" achieved on this occasion destroyed any chance or Town challenging for top place on the night. However, the number of amazing swims and the emergence of new talent bodes well for the rest of the season.

9 year old Chloe Thompson got Town's first points on the board with a good second place in the Girls 11 and under Backstroke. Sam Allsop registered an impressive personal best and our first time-fault in the Boy's event.

Our quartet of 9 year old girls then smashed the cut-off time in their Breaststroke relay with debutant Daisy Nolan joining Victoria Bishop, Hannah Binning and Chloe Thompson.

It was soon clear that our luck was not going to be in on the night when Hannah Binning's superb 50m Backstroke just beat the cut-off in the 10 and under age group and Jonathan Toolis was just pipped for first place in the boy's race.

There was,however, a good win-double in the 13 and under 100m Freestyle events with Rosie Webber and relative newcomer Tom Benson both in impressive form.

Unexpectedly big PBs from Jodie Ward in the Girl's Open Butterfly and from Arabella Woolf in the 10 and under Breaststroke were good to see, but stopped the scoreboard ticking over again!

Maddie Webber and Sam Hollington both managed 3rd places in the 11 and under Breaststroke. There was also a third place for our Open Freestyle relay team of Conor Toolis, Billy Bass, Josh Rogers and Michael Fearon.

In the 10 and under Freestyle events Hannah Binning recorded her third time-fault of the evening, but Jonathan Toolis was a deserved winner this time around.

Maddie Webber picked up 3rd place in the Girls 11 and under Freestyle, whilst there was another time-fault for emerging talent, Conor Houlihan for the boys.

14 year old Kate Heptinstall is another swimmer who is relatively new to competitive swimming, but she swam to a very impressive win in the Open 50m Backstroke. Billy Bass was 3rd for the boys.

10 year old Sophie Ward competed in the 13 and under category and claimed a good second place in the 50m Breaststroke.

The Butterfly events traditionally provide a lot of points for Town and tonight was no exception as Victoria Bishop, Sophie Ward, Maddie Webber, Rosie Webber, Kate Heptinstall and Jodie Ward combined to take first place in the Girls Squadron Relay. The boys scored well too, with a second place for Max Stuart, Conor Houlihan, Sam Hollington, Conor Toolis, Billy Bass and Michael Fearon.

Romford achieved maximum points in the 11 and under Freestyle relays with Sophie Ward, Arabella Woolf, Maddie Webber and Chloe Thompson going for the girls and Conor Houlihan, Sam Hollington, Sam Allsop and Jonathan Toolis for the boys.

Shara Islam and Conor Toolis delivered another Town double in the 13 and under 50m Backstroke. Whilst Alex Rose and Josh Rogers managed 3rd places in their Open 100m Freestyle races.

Chloe Thompson, Victoria Bishop and Daisy Nolan their combined with Hannah Binning for the 9 year old Girls Freestyle Relay and by now another time fault was expected and achieved!

9 year olds Victoria Bishop and Robert Benson were thrust into the 10 years and under 25m Fly events and both achieved good 3rd places. Conor Houlihan swam to a comfortable victory in the Boys 11 and under 50m Butterfly.

The Squadron Breaststroke relay finally saw all of Hannah Binning's efforts rewarded with some points as she joined Maddie Webber, Arabella Woolf, Shara Islam, Isabel Allsop and Alex Rose for a storming victory.

Sophie Ward comfortably won the Girls 13 and under 50m Butterfly, with Josh Rogers just touched out into second place for the boys.

The Open 50m Breaststroke swims saw a 2nd place for Michael Fearon and a 3rd for Isabel Allsop.

In the 13 and under Freestyle relays Josh Rogers, Tom Benson, Tony Bass and Conor Toolis were worthy winners and Rosier Webber, Shara Islam, Sophie Ward and Chloe Thompson were second.

The 10 and under Freestyle relays produced two 3rd places for Town with Maddie Webber, Arabella Woolf, Victoria Bishop and Daisy Nolan in action for the girls and Conor Houlihan, Robert Benson, Max Stuart and Jonathan Toolis for the boys.

Like Daisy Nolan, Harry Taylor enjoyed an encouraging first evening of competitive swimming. Unfortunately, his relay teams were unable to score any points on the night as we had to field an over-age swimmer to make up the numbers, but we can expect plenty of points from these two youngsters as the season progresses.

Final Result:

1. Hornchurch 167
2. Clacton 165
3. Romford Town 136
4. Dunmow 109
5. Saffron Walden 86

Well done to all.

Alan Ward