29 Jun 2008 - THURROCK YOUNGSTERS WIN M11 JUNIOR SPEEDO LEAGUE

THURROCK YOUNGSTERS WIN M11 JUNIOR SPEEDO LEAGUE

Final League Standings

1.      Thurrock  

2.      Romford   Town  

3.      Kingston Royals

4.      Colchester  

5.      Hillingdon

6.      Redbridge

Junior swimmers from Thurrock were recently crowned 2008 M11 Junior Speedo League champions. Having convincingly won the first 2 rounds of the competition, team Thurrock looked clear favourites to take the title for the 2^nd year in succession – and that they did in convincing style.

Team Thurrock fought off strong opposition from Essex rivals, Romford  Town, Colchester and Redbridge and established clubs Kingston Royals and Hillingdon and amazingly recorded 46 top 3 places from the 49 races on offer.  

The boys 9 year old relay quartet of Keiron Gore, Aaron Bearwish, Aaron Clarke and Jack Elliott got Thurrock off to a flying start, comfortably winning the 4x1 freestyle relay and touching home 2^nd in the medley relay. Keiron then went to win the 25m breast (19.54) and butterfly (17.70), with Aaron Clarke taking 2^nd in the 25m free (16.79) and Aaron Bearwish 3^rd in the 25m back (20.43). For the girls, both Hope Jones and Tillie Geggus swam to two 3^rd places each; Hope in the 25m breast (22.64) and 25m free (17.50) and Tillie in the 25m back (21.22) and 25m fly (20.30). 

Not for the first time this season, the boys team dominated the 10 year category winning all 6 events on offer. James Day stormed to victory in the 50m free (32.63), as did Salaam Motin in the 50m breast (44.24). George Epsly was also a convincing winner in the 50m back (38.90), as was team mate Bobbie McCarthy in the 50m fly (35.77). The boys completed the rout by winning both the medley and freestyle relays. There was also success for the 10 year old girls, with Rachael Moore swimming to victory in the 50m back (37.84) and claiming 2^nd spot in the 50m breast (46.02). Chloe Bass also made a splash, claiming 2^nd places in the 50m fly (39.39) and 50m free (35.01). The duo were then joined by Eloise Lyons and Mollie Merritt to take a well deserved victory in the medley relay.  

The speedo league winning streak for the borough’s 11 year girls continued and not surprisingly seeing all five girls have qualified for this years national age group championships. Normal winning service was resumed by Katherine Stephens in the 50m fly (33.55) and 50m free (31.32), Amy Gore in the 11 and 12 years 50m breast (38.21 & 37.47) and Emma Cassidy who also both the 11 and 12 year 50m backstroke events (34.57 & 35.44). The girls then joined forces with Melissa Cowell and Georgia Mills to win both freestyle and medley relay events.  

Deneholme pupil Joe Brown continued his own speedo winning streak when he swam to victory in the boys 11 years 50m fly (35.09) and 50m back (36.42). Joe then combined with 10 year old’s Bobbie McCarthy, Salaam Motin and George Epsly to take 2^nd place in the medley relay.  

In the eldest 12 year category, the boys faced tough opposition from a strong trio of swimmers from Romford  Town. Despite this the Borough boys finished with two second and two third places. Sonny Ford just missed top spot in the 50m fly, finishing 2^nd (33.60), as did Gareth Hawkins in the 50m Backstroke (33.50). Breaststroke specialist Harry Geggus took 3^rd place in the 50m breast (39.59), with Bradley Clarke also collecting 3^rd spot in the 50m free (30.93). All four boys combined to take 2^nd place in the medley relay and were joined by William Edwards student Thomas Head to take 3^rd place in the freestyle relay. 

Thurrock will now compete against other winning clubs in the regional final for the South of England, later this year.      

DARREN FORD