27 Mar 2005 - East Anglian Long Course Meet
The top squads from Thurrock Swimming Club made the journey up the A12 to Norwich over the Easter break in order to participate in one of swimmings premier events; the 'East Anglian Long Course Meet'. This attracts some of the best young swimmers in the country from a radius stretching from Lincoln to Hampshire.
Things could not have started better for the team. In his very first swim, 14 year old Billy Tubbs completed an incredible 30 second personal best swim in the 1500m freestyle to take 3rd place. His time was the 9th fastest swam by a boy of his age this year in England and qualifies him for the National Championships in Sheffied in August. Following on from his tremendous performance in the Essex County Championships, Bill also won the 400m Freestyle (4.30.87) and mopped up a silver for 200m fly (2.23.61).
The Thurrock boys had a terrific weekend, easily dominating the 13/14 age category. Tomas Purton came sharply back into good form to take the gold medal in the 100m Freestyle event (57.83) and also collected a silver medal for the 200m fly (1.04.67) and bronze for 200m freestyle (2.07.65). Same Ward made the top 6 four times with his best swim in the 400m Individual Medley (5.21.53) and Rhys Mould took 6th place in the same event (5.23.84).
Things could not have started better for the team. In his very first swim, 14 year old Billy Tubbs completed an incredible 30 second personal best swim in the 1500m freestyle to take 3rd place. His time was the 9th fastest swam by a boy of his age this year in England and qualifies him for the National Championships in Sheffied in August. Following on from his tremendous performance in the Essex County Championships, Bill also won the 400m Freestyle (4.30.87) and mopped up a silver for 200m fly (2.23.61).
The Thurrock boys had a terrific weekend, easily dominating the 13/14 age category. Tomas Purton came sharply back into good form to take the gold medal in the 100m Freestyle event (57.83) and also collected a silver medal for the 200m fly (1.04.67) and bronze for 200m freestyle (2.07.65). Same Ward made the top 6 four times with his best swim in the 400m Individual Medley (5.21.53) and Rhys Mould took 6th place in the same event (5.23.84).
Chief Coach, Alex Morgan explained the importance of travelling to events like this. "Firstly, swimmers are at an advantage at the National Championships if they have made their qualifying times in a 50m pool, like the superb Sportspark facility at the University of East Anglia pool. But a top class event like this gives the swimmers an opportunity to compete alongside other athletes from outside of our county and this very often lifts their performance."
Certainly 11 year old Charlie Hayes from Grays responded well to this atmosphere as he became Thurrock?s eight swimmer this year to qualify for the national Championships coming 3rd in the 12 yrs and under 400m Individual Medley in a time of 5.57.10.
National Championship veteran, 13 year old Georgia Hunton Clarke make short work of the backstroke events, swimming to victory in both the 100m event (1.09.13) and 200m event (2.28.28) both qualifying her to swim again this year. And 12 year old Megan Langeridge will joining her there as she swam to victory in the 100m Fly (1-14-66) and 4th place in the 200m event (2.43.12)
Elsewhere, the girls were always in contention for the medals. Essex Individual age group champion 16 year old Daniella Nice took 3rd place in the 200m fly (2.37.60) and took 8 seconds off her 400m IM long course personal best time to finish 5th in the open age group (5.21.62) while in the same event for the 13/14 age group, Jessica Ford from Grays confirmed her excellent form this year to finish 6th (5.49.11).
Twelve year old Molly Epsley from Horndon continued to impress with her distance swimming finishing 6th in the 400m Freestyle (5-02-72) and 11 year old Kerriann Chipperfield swimming vastly out of her age group took 6th place in the 12 years 100m fly event (1.17.60).
The club is now gearing up for the last ever Southern Counties Championships which will take place in May and June before the ASA Regionalisation initiative moves Thurrock into the eastern region.
Certainly 11 year old Charlie Hayes from Grays responded well to this atmosphere as he became Thurrock?s eight swimmer this year to qualify for the national Championships coming 3rd in the 12 yrs and under 400m Individual Medley in a time of 5.57.10.
National Championship veteran, 13 year old Georgia Hunton Clarke make short work of the backstroke events, swimming to victory in both the 100m event (1.09.13) and 200m event (2.28.28) both qualifying her to swim again this year. And 12 year old Megan Langeridge will joining her there as she swam to victory in the 100m Fly (1-14-66) and 4th place in the 200m event (2.43.12)
Elsewhere, the girls were always in contention for the medals. Essex Individual age group champion 16 year old Daniella Nice took 3rd place in the 200m fly (2.37.60) and took 8 seconds off her 400m IM long course personal best time to finish 5th in the open age group (5.21.62) while in the same event for the 13/14 age group, Jessica Ford from Grays confirmed her excellent form this year to finish 6th (5.49.11).
Twelve year old Molly Epsley from Horndon continued to impress with her distance swimming finishing 6th in the 400m Freestyle (5-02-72) and 11 year old Kerriann Chipperfield swimming vastly out of her age group took 6th place in the 12 years 100m fly event (1.17.60).
The club is now gearing up for the last ever Southern Counties Championships which will take place in May and June before the ASA Regionalisation initiative moves Thurrock into the eastern region.