11 Feb 2006 - Essex Championships 2006
The first event of the 2nd weekend of competition in the Essex ASA County Championships 2006 saw an awesome performance of distance swimming from 16 year old Brooke Turner. Brooke left everyone else in her age group way behind as she completed the 32 lengths of the 800m freestyle in 8 minutes 56.90 seconds. She narrowly missed taking the championship record, currently held by Nathalie Brown of Southend who incidentally went on to compete for the Great Britain team, by less than half a second. Brooke also won the ladies 200m fly in 2.06.65.
Elsewhere it was a great day for two of Thurrock's younger stars. 13 year old Molly Epsly from Horndon on the Hill had a terrific weekend taking bronze medals in both the 200m fly (2.37.51 and 200m freestyle (2.17.77) but it was in the 400m freestyle where the fruits of her exceptionally hard training were finally fulfilled as she romped home in first place in a time of 4 minutes 42.78 seconds.
Elsewhere it was a great day for two of Thurrock's younger stars. 13 year old Molly Epsly from Horndon on the Hill had a terrific weekend taking bronze medals in both the 200m fly (2.37.51 and 200m freestyle (2.17.77) but it was in the 400m freestyle where the fruits of her exceptionally hard training were finally fulfilled as she romped home in first place in a time of 4 minutes 42.78 seconds.
And 12 year old Braden Wren from Orsett showed that his return to top form is well underway. Overall Essex champion as a ten year old in 2004, Braden subsequently suffered a severely broken arm, however, he returned home a double champion in 2006 winning both the 200m Individual medley (2.36.42) and the 400m IM event too (5.27.53). With a bronze medal in the 100m IM event and a 5th and 6th place for 100m backstroke (1.15.57) and 200m backstroke (2.42.15) thye future looks very bright indeed.
Megan Langridge from Grays again proved her calibre as a three times National Championships qualifier by taking two more silver medals in the 100m Fly (1.13.01) and 400m Individual medley (5.27.33). Megan also finished fourth in the 200m IM (2.40.76) one place behind Kerriann Chipperfield who pipped her for the bronze medal in 2.40.40. Kerriann finished third in the 100m Fly (1.13.42) and fourth in the 400m IM (5.32.03) along with Thurrock team mate Abigail Sayer who finished sixth in 5.50.69.
Altogether 15 Thurrock Swimmers made finals in block B. None fought harder for their medal than 10 year old Alexander Ball from Orsett who swam his entire 200m breaststroke race in a stroke for stroke tussle with his team mate Sonny Ford. Eventually Alexander just edged ahead to finish 6th overall in 3.38.53. In the same event, Bradley Clarke from Grays finished 4th (3.30.37) while 10 year old Amy Beardwell Lacey continued to excel taking a third place for 200m backstroke (2.56.96) and 5th in the 100m Individual medley (1.27.46).
With four finalists awards from four swims, 13 year old Georgina Hunt collected the biggest medal haul for the girls, taking bronze in the 100m Fly (1.13.28) along with a fifth place in 200m Fly (2.42.06), and 6th places for 200m & 400m Freestyle (2.19.31 & 4.53.58). In the same age group, Robyn Turner took 4th place in both 100m fly (1.13.41) and 200m Freestyle (2.17.77).
12 Year old Charlie Hayes from South Stifford swam his very best 400m IM (4.36.34) ever to take a bronze medal with 5th place in the 200m event (2.43.59) and there was a double backstroke success for 11 year old Harriette Davis with a bronze medal for 200m (2.46.16) and 4th place for the 100m (1.19.78).
Finally 14 year old Shannon Harrold finished 5th in the 400m Freestyle (4.46.18) while Daniella Nice received her first finalists position of these championships with a 5th place in a personal best time for the 200m breaststroke (2.58.56.)
Megan Langridge from Grays again proved her calibre as a three times National Championships qualifier by taking two more silver medals in the 100m Fly (1.13.01) and 400m Individual medley (5.27.33). Megan also finished fourth in the 200m IM (2.40.76) one place behind Kerriann Chipperfield who pipped her for the bronze medal in 2.40.40. Kerriann finished third in the 100m Fly (1.13.42) and fourth in the 400m IM (5.32.03) along with Thurrock team mate Abigail Sayer who finished sixth in 5.50.69.
Altogether 15 Thurrock Swimmers made finals in block B. None fought harder for their medal than 10 year old Alexander Ball from Orsett who swam his entire 200m breaststroke race in a stroke for stroke tussle with his team mate Sonny Ford. Eventually Alexander just edged ahead to finish 6th overall in 3.38.53. In the same event, Bradley Clarke from Grays finished 4th (3.30.37) while 10 year old Amy Beardwell Lacey continued to excel taking a third place for 200m backstroke (2.56.96) and 5th in the 100m Individual medley (1.27.46).
With four finalists awards from four swims, 13 year old Georgina Hunt collected the biggest medal haul for the girls, taking bronze in the 100m Fly (1.13.28) along with a fifth place in 200m Fly (2.42.06), and 6th places for 200m & 400m Freestyle (2.19.31 & 4.53.58). In the same age group, Robyn Turner took 4th place in both 100m fly (1.13.41) and 200m Freestyle (2.17.77).
12 Year old Charlie Hayes from South Stifford swam his very best 400m IM (4.36.34) ever to take a bronze medal with 5th place in the 200m event (2.43.59) and there was a double backstroke success for 11 year old Harriette Davis with a bronze medal for 200m (2.46.16) and 4th place for the 100m (1.19.78).
Finally 14 year old Shannon Harrold finished 5th in the 400m Freestyle (4.46.18) while Daniella Nice received her first finalists position of these championships with a 5th place in a personal best time for the 200m breaststroke (2.58.56.)