2 Dec 2006 - 2/3 Dec - Guildford
Thurrock Shine at Guildford
Thurrock Swimming Club continued its impressive start to the season when a large contingent of swimmers attended the recent Guildford City open meet. The meet draws a prestigious and highly competitive entry from right across the South of England including a strong representation from the Channel Islands. Following 2 long days of competition, Thurrock amassed an incredible 1353 points and were just a few points away from winning the coveted top visiting club trophy.
Leading the way for Thurrock was Woodside primary school pupil Bradley Clarke. Competing in the 10 year age group, Bradley won no fewer than 5 events (50m, 200m, 400m free, 200m breast, 400m IM) and also collected 2 silvers (200m fly, 200m IM) and a bronze (200m back). In the 400m freestyle, Bradley's impressive performance earned him a national qualifying time and his excellent weekend was complete when he was crowned joint top junior boy.
This performance was matched by 9 year old Salaam Motin from Chafford Hundred. Competing in his 1st open competition, Salaam collected 5 gold's (200m breast, 200m back, 200m IM, 400m IM, 400m free) and 2 silvers (50m back, 200m free). The clubs 9 year old girls were also in fine form with Rose Merritt taking silver in the 200m free (2:52.28) and Rachel Moore collecting 4 bronze medals in the 200m free (2:52.80), 50m breast (49.85), 200m back (3:11.45) and 200m IM (3:16.85).
But it was not just Thurrock's young competitive swimmers grabbing the spotlight. Sixteen year old Jessica Ford will clearly need a new trophy cabinet sooner rather than later, as she bagged another impressive haul of medals. Jessica cleaned up in the girls 16 year category winning 4 gold's in the 100 and 200m breast (1:20.66 and 2:47.40), 200m free (2:14.86) and 400m IM (5:09.17), 2 silvers in the 400m free (4:37.84) and 200m IM (2:30.45) and a bronze in the 200m back (2:30.70).
Thurrock continue to produce successful swimmers across all age groups and this was proven with the impressive medal haul which followed. Ten year old girls Katherine Stephens, Kayleigh Simms and Rebecca Hayes all produced excellent performances. Katherine took silver medals in the girls 10 year 20m fly (3:08.55) and 400m IM (6:16.81) and added bronze medals in the 50m fly (36.43) and 200m back (2:57.09). Breastroke specialist Kayleigh took a silver and bronze in the 10 year 200m and 50m breastroke (3:13.25 and 41.67). Not to be outdone, Rebecca Hayes from South Stifford swam to an excellent PB to take bronze in the 400m free (5:19.93).
The borough's ten year old boys also produced when Sonny Ford cleaned up in the boys 10 years butterfly events, winning both the 50m (37.81) and 200m (2:56.00). Sonny also added a silver in the 400m IM. Backstroke specialist Gareth Hawkins from Ockendon powered down the pool to take the 200m backstroke gold (2.44.29), then added silver in the 50m back (38.69) and a bronze in the 200m free (2:35.35).
Up next were the 11 year olds, led by Amy Beardwell Lacey from Grays. Amy doubled up in the butterfly events and brought home gold in the 200m (2:56.63) and bronze in the 100m (1:21.74). Fellow 11 year old, Charlie Hard took an excellent 3rd spot in the 200m fly (3:06.71).
Then came 12 year olds Abigail Sayer and Charlie Hayes. Abigail claimed 2nd spot in the girls 200m fly (2:36.64) and added a bronze in the 400m IM (5:34.81). Team mate Charlie Hayes showed his versatility by being placed in the top 6, of every event he swam in. Charlie bagged an impressive 4 silvers for the 100m and 200m fly (1:14.34 and 2:35.71), 200m breast (3:01.88) and 400m IM (5:21.22). He also swam to 2 bronze medals for the 100m breast (1:28.18) and 200m IM (2:37.66).
The club has an abundance of talented 13 year olds and this showed when the quartet of Megan Langridge, Kerriann Chipperfield, Braden Wren and Conor Harrold dominated their age group. Megan led the way with double gold in her favoured butterfly events, 100m (1:11.15) and 200m (2:27.92). She then added another in the 400m IM (5:21.88) and 3 silvers in the 100m back (1:11.72), 200m back (2:28.80) and 200m IM (2:36.42). Team mate Kerriann Chipperfield took silver in the 100m fly (1:13.91) to add to her bronze in the 200m fly (2:35.35) and showed versatility by collecting another bronze in the 400m freestyle (4:44.45).
Not to be outdone, the 13 year old boys also shone when Braden Wren collected gold in the 200m fly (2:32.30) and silver in the 400m IM (5:18.04). Conor Harrold also had a fine meet and bagged 2 silvers for the 400m free (4:39.36) and 200m fly (2:34.41) and 2 bronze medals in the 200m back (2:29.06) and 200m IM (2:32.41).
Fourteen year old Georgina Hunt had a 100% winning record when she swam to victory in the 400m free (4:34.73) and 200m back (2:31.95). Fellow 14 year old Whitney Hard bagged a silver medal in the 50m breast (40.05), while Thomas Ford collected bronze in the 200m fly (2:45.57). Amy Hatfield completed the success in this age group by swimming to a hat-trick of 4th places in the 50m, 100m and 200m back.
The clubs senior swimmers completed the impressive medal haul when 15 year old Shannon Harrold continued her fantastic season by taking gold in the 200m fly (2:34.48), silver in the 400m free (4:35.61) and bronze in the 200m back (2:36.75). Shannon was joined in this age group by Emma Backhurst who bagged a silver in the 400m IM (5:36.14) and a bronze in the 200m fly (2:41.87).
Other good swims and personal best performances were produced by 9 year olds Lily Mann, Bobbie McCarthy, Kalaam Motin and James Day, 10 year olds Georgia Mills, Melissa Cowell, Amy Gore, Joe Brown and Thomas Head, brothers Thomas and Alex Mangan. James Mitchell, Danielle Sayer, Brooke McCarthy and Emily Neal completed an excellent weekend's work for the Borough swimmers.
Thurrock Swimming Club continued its impressive start to the season when a large contingent of swimmers attended the recent Guildford City open meet. The meet draws a prestigious and highly competitive entry from right across the South of England including a strong representation from the Channel Islands. Following 2 long days of competition, Thurrock amassed an incredible 1353 points and were just a few points away from winning the coveted top visiting club trophy.
Leading the way for Thurrock was Woodside primary school pupil Bradley Clarke. Competing in the 10 year age group, Bradley won no fewer than 5 events (50m, 200m, 400m free, 200m breast, 400m IM) and also collected 2 silvers (200m fly, 200m IM) and a bronze (200m back). In the 400m freestyle, Bradley's impressive performance earned him a national qualifying time and his excellent weekend was complete when he was crowned joint top junior boy.
This performance was matched by 9 year old Salaam Motin from Chafford Hundred. Competing in his 1st open competition, Salaam collected 5 gold's (200m breast, 200m back, 200m IM, 400m IM, 400m free) and 2 silvers (50m back, 200m free). The clubs 9 year old girls were also in fine form with Rose Merritt taking silver in the 200m free (2:52.28) and Rachel Moore collecting 4 bronze medals in the 200m free (2:52.80), 50m breast (49.85), 200m back (3:11.45) and 200m IM (3:16.85).
But it was not just Thurrock's young competitive swimmers grabbing the spotlight. Sixteen year old Jessica Ford will clearly need a new trophy cabinet sooner rather than later, as she bagged another impressive haul of medals. Jessica cleaned up in the girls 16 year category winning 4 gold's in the 100 and 200m breast (1:20.66 and 2:47.40), 200m free (2:14.86) and 400m IM (5:09.17), 2 silvers in the 400m free (4:37.84) and 200m IM (2:30.45) and a bronze in the 200m back (2:30.70).
Thurrock continue to produce successful swimmers across all age groups and this was proven with the impressive medal haul which followed. Ten year old girls Katherine Stephens, Kayleigh Simms and Rebecca Hayes all produced excellent performances. Katherine took silver medals in the girls 10 year 20m fly (3:08.55) and 400m IM (6:16.81) and added bronze medals in the 50m fly (36.43) and 200m back (2:57.09). Breastroke specialist Kayleigh took a silver and bronze in the 10 year 200m and 50m breastroke (3:13.25 and 41.67). Not to be outdone, Rebecca Hayes from South Stifford swam to an excellent PB to take bronze in the 400m free (5:19.93).
The borough's ten year old boys also produced when Sonny Ford cleaned up in the boys 10 years butterfly events, winning both the 50m (37.81) and 200m (2:56.00). Sonny also added a silver in the 400m IM. Backstroke specialist Gareth Hawkins from Ockendon powered down the pool to take the 200m backstroke gold (2.44.29), then added silver in the 50m back (38.69) and a bronze in the 200m free (2:35.35).
Up next were the 11 year olds, led by Amy Beardwell Lacey from Grays. Amy doubled up in the butterfly events and brought home gold in the 200m (2:56.63) and bronze in the 100m (1:21.74). Fellow 11 year old, Charlie Hard took an excellent 3rd spot in the 200m fly (3:06.71).
Then came 12 year olds Abigail Sayer and Charlie Hayes. Abigail claimed 2nd spot in the girls 200m fly (2:36.64) and added a bronze in the 400m IM (5:34.81). Team mate Charlie Hayes showed his versatility by being placed in the top 6, of every event he swam in. Charlie bagged an impressive 4 silvers for the 100m and 200m fly (1:14.34 and 2:35.71), 200m breast (3:01.88) and 400m IM (5:21.22). He also swam to 2 bronze medals for the 100m breast (1:28.18) and 200m IM (2:37.66).
The club has an abundance of talented 13 year olds and this showed when the quartet of Megan Langridge, Kerriann Chipperfield, Braden Wren and Conor Harrold dominated their age group. Megan led the way with double gold in her favoured butterfly events, 100m (1:11.15) and 200m (2:27.92). She then added another in the 400m IM (5:21.88) and 3 silvers in the 100m back (1:11.72), 200m back (2:28.80) and 200m IM (2:36.42). Team mate Kerriann Chipperfield took silver in the 100m fly (1:13.91) to add to her bronze in the 200m fly (2:35.35) and showed versatility by collecting another bronze in the 400m freestyle (4:44.45).
Not to be outdone, the 13 year old boys also shone when Braden Wren collected gold in the 200m fly (2:32.30) and silver in the 400m IM (5:18.04). Conor Harrold also had a fine meet and bagged 2 silvers for the 400m free (4:39.36) and 200m fly (2:34.41) and 2 bronze medals in the 200m back (2:29.06) and 200m IM (2:32.41).
Fourteen year old Georgina Hunt had a 100% winning record when she swam to victory in the 400m free (4:34.73) and 200m back (2:31.95). Fellow 14 year old Whitney Hard bagged a silver medal in the 50m breast (40.05), while Thomas Ford collected bronze in the 200m fly (2:45.57). Amy Hatfield completed the success in this age group by swimming to a hat-trick of 4th places in the 50m, 100m and 200m back.
The clubs senior swimmers completed the impressive medal haul when 15 year old Shannon Harrold continued her fantastic season by taking gold in the 200m fly (2:34.48), silver in the 400m free (4:35.61) and bronze in the 200m back (2:36.75). Shannon was joined in this age group by Emma Backhurst who bagged a silver in the 400m IM (5:36.14) and a bronze in the 200m fly (2:41.87).
Other good swims and personal best performances were produced by 9 year olds Lily Mann, Bobbie McCarthy, Kalaam Motin and James Day, 10 year olds Georgia Mills, Melissa Cowell, Amy Gore, Joe Brown and Thomas Head, brothers Thomas and Alex Mangan. James Mitchell, Danielle Sayer, Brooke McCarthy and Emily Neal completed an excellent weekend's work for the Borough swimmers.