RTSC Gala Reports

Saturday 5th/Sunday 6th November - Thurrock SC County Qualifier 2011 - Blackshots Pool

A large contingent of Romford swimmers descended upon the Blackshots Lane Pool at Thurrock this weekend. Having only just competed three weeks earlier at our own Open Meet this was a further test to see what progress has been made this season and whether the hard work in the training pool is beginning to pay off.

Some super swimming and performances was testament to the recent hard work culminating once again in many swimmers achieving County Qualification times and/or personal best times.

The very first event of the weekend witnessed the boys 400 metres Freestyle, the results from which set the scene for the rest of the competition

Nine year old James Cooper romped to victory in his heat and age group with an impressive time of 5:47 seconds, whilst Jack Rice won the 10 years age group 400 Freestyle. Daniel Weston took silver in the 11 years age group with a big personal best time whilst it proved a "1,2,3" for the 12 year boys as Mitchell Wilson swam impressively to record a time of 4:53 with Ben Davis in 2nd place and Robert Benson 3rd.

There was a repeat performance in the 13 years boys 400m Freestyle as Patrick Rourke and Tommy Beardsell finishing 1st and 2nd gained their County Qualifying mark whilst Jonathan Toolis swam to a big PB in coming 3rd. Tom Benson swam well too in the 16 years and over age group as he was 2nd.

The second event of the long two days of competition was the girls 400 metres Individual Medley. In the 11 years age group Georgia Milton set about her weekend's work with a terrific time of 5:44.69 as she took 1st place with Rebecca Cribb swimming well to gain 2nd and Anna Manning taking 3rd spot. 12 year old Erin Corney embarked on her long schedule of events with a powerful swim to record an impressive 5:29, as she won her age group whilst team mates Stephanie Tomlinson and Jodi Whitehead both swam well as they came 2nd and 3rd in the girls 13 year 400 metres individual medley.

The following Sunday morning saw the boys competing in their 400 metres Individual Medley whilst the girls took part in the 400 metres Freestyle. 11 year old Georgia Milton started the second day of competition in the same manner as she started the first with another impressive display this time in the 400 metres Freestyle as she broke the 5 minute barrier for the first time, recording 4:57.27 to take top spot.

10 year old Jessica Ayling swam to a big personal best time to win her 400 Freestyle, whilst Ellie Harris kept the gold medals coming as a new PB saw her take top spot in the 12 years age group. In the 13 year girls 400 metres Freestyle Amy Marren swam to her first sub 5:00 minute swim recording a very strong 4:52, whilst Sophie Ward came 2nd. 14 year old Megan Smith was rewarded for her hard work with a bronze in her age group.

In the boys 400 Medley Romford swimmers swept the board as James Cooper won the 9 years age group, Dan Weston the 11 years, Mitchell Wilson the 12 years and Luke Sheridan took the honours in the 14 years age group competition with Sam Allsop 2nd.

It wasn't just in the middle distance events that Town swimmers excelled but they were prominent in all events and age groups. Keeping it in the family, nine year old Emily Milton tried to emulate her elder sister Georgia in the number of events contested and medals gained. Both Georgia and Emily being products of Towns successful learn to swim program, emerging talent Emily won the 200m Backstroke, 100 Medley and 50 metres Breaststroke and won several other medals whilst competing against nine year old team mate Martha Merritt. Martha went on to win the nine years 200m Freestyle, 50m Freestyle and 200m Breaststroke. Nine year old Georgia Marren also ensured her older sister, Amy, wasn't the only one in the family to win a gold medal as she won the 200 metres Butterfly.

Georgia Milton competing in the 11 years age added to her two golds in the 400 metre events going on to win several other gold medals including 100m Breast, 200m Medley, 100m Medley , 100m Backstroke, 100m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly and 200m Backstroke.

11 year old Chloe Thompson swam well too as she won the 200m Freestyle was 2nd in the 100m Freestyle and won the 50m Freestyle with Anna Manning close behind in 2nd spot before going one better as Anna came 1st in the 50m Backstroke. Rebecca Cribb enjoyed success in her favourite Butterfly event as she came 2nd in the 100 metres Butterfly.

For the boys, nine year old James Cooper added a further gold medal to his 400 metre triumphs in the 200 metres Freestyle whilst other nine year olds Lawrie Arrowsmith and Jude Ward picked up medals.

In the ten year age group Billy Harrison picked up a handful of gold medals with some terrific swims throughout the weekend including 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Freestyle as Joe Lomas gained some good times and top three placings, the pick of which being the 200m Backstroke.

Jessica Ayling following her success in the ten year girls 400m Freestyle picked up a further gold medal in the 200m Freestyle and a silver in the 100m Medley. For the eleven year old boys, Dan Weston continued his collection of medals with some strong swims as he won the 200m, 100m and 50m Butterfly whilst David Brooks and Jacob Smith picked up top three placings in several events with some good swims.

There were a number of very good swims for Town swimmers in the 12 year boys age group. Mitchell Wilson continued to pick up gold medals, including the 200 Medley whilst Ben Davis won the 200m Freestyle and Josh Burcombe won the 100m Freestyle. Sam Ellis, returning to the competition pool for the first time in over 12 months, enjoyed a hat-trick of successes in winning the 12 years 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke, whilst Zachary Coleman continues to get closer to achieving his County times by winning the 200m Backstroke.

For the 12 year girls Erin Corney had a very successful weekend and picked up a number of gold medals including the 100m Backstroke, 200m Butterfly and the 200 Medley. In the latter event. Town made it a "1,2,3" again with Ellie Harris coming 2nd and Megan Witton 3rd in her first County time this season. Ellie went on later to win the 100m Medley having won the 200m Freestyle also. Hannah Binning picked up two gold medals in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke and also won the 12 years 100m Freestyle, whilst Victoria Bishop won the 50m Freestyle.

For the 13 year old boys team mates and training colleagues Partrick Rourke, Tommy Beardsell, Jonathan Toolis and Tom Badley swam well gaining several County times. Patrick Rourke swam to an impressive 61 seconds in winning the 100m Freestyle and also won the 200m Butterfly adding to his earlier success in the 400m Freestyle. Jonathan Toolis gained an Essex Qualifying time in fine style in winning the 200m Breaststroke, whilst Tommy Beardsell won the 200m Freestyle adding this to several other County qualifying times achieved over the weekend. Tom Badley swam to top honours in winning the 13 years 100m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle and was second in the 50m Backstroke. 13 year old Oliver Coles was in amongst the medals too, gaining 2nd in the 200m Butterfly, whilst fast improving David Splipaitis was 3rd in the 200m Freestyle.

For the 13 year old girls there were several good performances with a host of medals gained. Amy Marren added to her 400 metre Freestyle success by lowering her British 200m Backstroke "S9"record set only three weeks earlier as she won this event and also won the 100m Backstroke. Sophie Ward swam to big personal best times in winning the 13 years 100m and 200 metres Medleys and 200 metres Breaststroke, whilst Bethany Moore won her debut performance in the 13 years 200m Butterfly. Fast improving Stephanie Tomlinson had another good weekend of competition as she won the 13 years 100m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke together with picking up several other medals. 13 year old Mollie Merrit picked up several top three placings, whilst Yasmin Morris picked up a good 3rd spot in the 100 metres Medley.

Luke Sheridan kept the gold medals coming in the 14 years boys age group with some very strong swims as he won the 200m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly, 100m Medley and 100m Butterfly. Samuel Allsop, Sam Hollington and Ryan Ross also swam well too in this age group as they managed top three placings in several events.

Ann Marie Smith picked up a silver in the girls 100 metres Medley and 100 metres Backstroke.

In the oldest age group, sixteen year old Tom Benson had a good weekend of events picking up a silver medal in the 100m Backstroke to add to the silver gained in the 400m Freestyle.

Well done to all those that competed making the weekend a big success.