17 Feb 2008 - Essex Championships - Block B
Essex Championships
Block B
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not for the 1st time this year, a capacity crowd gathered at Blackshots Leisure Centre to see the finest swimmers in Essex compete in the 2nd round of the Essex County age group swimming championships.
Reigning champions Thurrock once again showed why they are one of the top swimming clubs in the east of England, with many personal best swims, top 6 finishes and county records being broken.
One of Thurrock’s top performers over the weekend was 15 year old Georgina Hunt who scooped four Essex titles and two bronze medals. The bronze medals came in the 200m fly (2:30) and 100m back (1:09) and Georgie won the prestigious county titles in the 200m IM (2:27), 100m free (1:01), 100m IM (1:08) and 800m free (9:13).
Also swimming in the fifteen year age group were Molly Epsly and Charlotte Lamb. Molly swam to gold in the 200m fly (2:26), silver in the 800m free (9:17) and 4th and 5th places in the 200m IM and 100m free. Charlotte also had a successful weekend bagging bronze in the 800m free (9:26), 4th in the 200m fly and 5th places in the 100 and 200m IM.
Thurrock has a tradition of success in the middle and long distance freestyle events and 2008 looks to be no exception. Thurrock’s contingent of 11 year old girls took a clean sweep in the 800m freestyle, with Katherine Stephens winning gold (10:02), Georgia Mills taking silver (10:24), Rebecca Hayes the bronze (10:30) and Melissa Cowell 4th place (10:31). Deneholme School pupil Katherine Stephens went on to win an additional gold in the 100m fly (1:13) and two silvers in the 200m breast (3:06) and 200m IM (2:39). Amy Gore joined the 11 year old medal fest winning two gold’s of her own in the 200m breast (2:55) and 200m IM (2:36).
Fresh from her success at the previous round of the Essex Champs, 10 year old Emma Cassidy proved she is one to watch for the future. Emma won gold and broke the Essex county record in the 400m free (4:58) and also won the 100m IM (1:18) and took bronze in the 200m breast (3:17). Team mate Rachael Moore also made a splash, winning bronze in the 200m breast (3:23) and taking 4th place in the 400m free (5:13).
The female quartet swimming in the 14 year age group once again brought home a hat full of top 6 swims. Butterfly specialist Megan Langridge won the 200m fly for the second year in succession (2:26). Megan followed up with silver in the 100m back (1:10) and bronze in the 200m IM (2:33). Danielle Sayer also had the golden touch, taking first place in the 100m back (1:09), 3rd in the 800m free (9:27) and 4th places in the 200m IM and 200m fly. Back in the pool, following a lengthy lay-off due to injury, was Dani’s twin sister Abigail. Abi proved she has lost none of her fighting spirit claiming silver in the 200m fly (2:28). Also making waves was Kerriann Chipperfield, claiming bronze in the 100m free (1:03) and silver in the 800m free (9:23)
The final medal winning performances for the girls were claimed by 17 year Jessica Ford who won silvers in the 200m IM (2:27) and 800m free (9:11), Emily Neal who swam to an impressive bronze medal in the 13 years 200m IM (2:40) and Amy Beardwell-Lacey who took 5th place in the girls 12 years 100m fly (1:14).
The boys from Thurrock proved they are just as successful as the girls, claiming over 20 podium places and an additional 14 places in the prestigious top 6.
Competing in their first ever Essex Championships were 9 year olds Keiran Gore and George Esply. The young boys were clearly not overawed by the intense atmosphere, with Kieran breaking two county records to win gold’s in the 200m breast (3:18) and 100m IM (1:22) and George claiming a gold medal and county record of his own in the 200m free (2:32). Both boys went on to add bronze medals; Keiran in the 200m free (2:37) and George in the 100m IM (1:25).
In the 10 year age group, Bobbie McCarthy from Ockendon scored an impressive hat-trick of wins in the 400m IM (5:49), 200m free (2:29) and 100m IM (1:20). Team mate Salaam Motin stopped Bobbie from taking a clean sweep of victories, narrowly pipping him to gold in the 200m breast (3:14). Salaam followed up with a silver in the 400m IM (5:53) and bronze in the 200m free (2:31). James Day from Grays followed up on his success in the Essex 50m sprint events, claiming 5th place in the 400m IM (6:10) and 6 th place in the 200m free (2:36).
The trio of Gareth Hawkins, Bradley Clarke and Sonny Ford also made a splash in the 12 year age category. Backstroke specialist Gareth out touched Bradley in the 200m backstroke by one hundredth of a second to take gold in 2:31. Not to be outdone, Bradley claimed a gold of his own in the 800m free (9:35), a silver in the 400m IM (5:21) and 4th place in the 100m IM. Sonny Ford also swam impressively in the 400m IM to claim 5th spot (5:44). Gareth completed the success with 6th place in the 800m free (10:11).
Brothers Ryan and Jason Daniels also continued their recent medal winning success with 13 year old Ryan winning silver in the 100m IM (1:09), bronze in the 400m IM (5:19) and 5th place in the 800m free (9:35). Fifteen year old Jason also swam impressively taking 4th places in the 200m back (2:19), 800m free (8:59) and 6th place in the 100m IM.
Duo Charlie Hayes and Alex Delicata both proved they are a force to be reckoned with in the boys 14 year age category. Charlie swam an incredible 400m IM to take gold and a 2008 national qualifying time (4:52). He also added 4th place in the 200m back (2:23) and 6th place in the 800m free. Alex showed a mix of strength, power and endurance to win silver in the 800m free (8:58), bronze medals in the 100m IM (1:08) and 200m back (2:22) and 4th place in the 400m IM (5:03).
Completing the success for the boys were fifteen year olds Conor Harrold and James Mitchell. Both boys swam impressive 800m races to claim 6th and 7th places respectively.
|
|
|
|
Darren Ford
Feb 2008