25 Nov 2006 - Relay Treble for Thurrock
Thurrock Swimming Clubs 9 and 10 year old swimmers outlined the clubs bright future when they bagged a hat-trick of relay gold medals at the Essex County Junior/Senior and Special Relays Championships, held last weekend at Blackshots leisure centre.
In the boys events the borough's fearless five were crowned double Essex Champions in both the medley and freestyle relay events. The team of Gareth Hawkins from Ockendon, Sonny Ford from Grays, Bradley Clarke from Chadwell and Salaam Motin from Chafford Hundred stormed down the pool to take gold in a time of 2:31.49. Denholme primary school pupil, Joe Brown replaced Salaam and joined the rest of the team for the freestyle relay, where they emulated their earlier success by bagging a 2nd gold in a time of 2:17.16.
Thurrock's strength in the 9/10 age group then really came to the fore when the girls relay teams swam to more success. In the medley relay, the team of Georgia Mills and Amy Gore from Chafford Hundred, Katherine Stephens from Grays and Kayleigh Simms, romped home to take gold in 2:33.99. The girls were then joined by Melissa Cowell for the freestyle relay where they collected an impressive silver in a time of 2:17.21.
The girls 9/10 Medley 'B' team of Rebecca Hayes, Rachel Moore, Lilly Mann and Melissa Cowell also swam magnificently to take 6th spot. The performances of these and the rest of Thurrock?s youngsters confirmed the clubs excellent reputation for producing talented young competitive swimmers, all of which are looking forward to very successful swimming season.
Also competing in the junior/senior section were some of Thurrock's more experienced swimmers. Fifteen year old Shannon Harold added to her recent regional success by being crowned 16 years and under 1500m champion (17:43.09). Shannon was again joined by 13 year old Molly Epsley who collected silver (17:52.29) and Emma Backhurst who took 4th spot (18:46.19).
Not to be outdone, 14 year Georgia Hunt, became the 3rd Thurrock swimmer to gain a 2007 national qualifying time in the 400m Individual Medley. Georgia collected 4th place in a time of 5:10.54.
The borough's excellent weekend was completed by 16 year old student Jessica Ford who collected 2 bronze medals in the 16 years and under 200m Free (2:14.52) and 400m IM (5:10.50) and Grays school student Megan Langridge who claimed a bronze in the 16 years and under 200m butterfly (2:31.90).
In the boys events the borough's fearless five were crowned double Essex Champions in both the medley and freestyle relay events. The team of Gareth Hawkins from Ockendon, Sonny Ford from Grays, Bradley Clarke from Chadwell and Salaam Motin from Chafford Hundred stormed down the pool to take gold in a time of 2:31.49. Denholme primary school pupil, Joe Brown replaced Salaam and joined the rest of the team for the freestyle relay, where they emulated their earlier success by bagging a 2nd gold in a time of 2:17.16.
Thurrock's strength in the 9/10 age group then really came to the fore when the girls relay teams swam to more success. In the medley relay, the team of Georgia Mills and Amy Gore from Chafford Hundred, Katherine Stephens from Grays and Kayleigh Simms, romped home to take gold in 2:33.99. The girls were then joined by Melissa Cowell for the freestyle relay where they collected an impressive silver in a time of 2:17.21.
The girls 9/10 Medley 'B' team of Rebecca Hayes, Rachel Moore, Lilly Mann and Melissa Cowell also swam magnificently to take 6th spot. The performances of these and the rest of Thurrock?s youngsters confirmed the clubs excellent reputation for producing talented young competitive swimmers, all of which are looking forward to very successful swimming season.
Also competing in the junior/senior section were some of Thurrock's more experienced swimmers. Fifteen year old Shannon Harold added to her recent regional success by being crowned 16 years and under 1500m champion (17:43.09). Shannon was again joined by 13 year old Molly Epsley who collected silver (17:52.29) and Emma Backhurst who took 4th spot (18:46.19).
Not to be outdone, 14 year Georgia Hunt, became the 3rd Thurrock swimmer to gain a 2007 national qualifying time in the 400m Individual Medley. Georgia collected 4th place in a time of 5:10.54.
The borough's excellent weekend was completed by 16 year old student Jessica Ford who collected 2 bronze medals in the 16 years and under 200m Free (2:14.52) and 400m IM (5:10.50) and Grays school student Megan Langridge who claimed a bronze in the 16 years and under 200m butterfly (2:31.90).