3 Feb 2007 - Rebdridge Gala
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th of February saw Thurrock Swimming Club travel to Fulwell Cross Swimming Pool, the home of The London Borough of Redbridge Swimming Club, to take part in the Redbridge Sprint Meet 2007. With an 8.30am warm up, it was early start both days for swimmers some as young as 9.
The swimmers began the gala with a 'flying' start, literally, with the girls 200m butterfly, commencing a weekend strewn with medals 118 to be exact, for the borough's only swimming club.
Elite squad swimmer Charlotte Lamb swam a strong 200m butterfly to win silver with an outstanding personal best of 2.46.76 with squad colleague Jessica Ford swimming into gold place with a 2.37.93.
In the boys 200m butterfly 9 year old Bobbie McCarthy from South Ockendon swam an impressive 3.42.94 to secure a gold medal, with Thomas Head placing first in the 10-11 year age group (3.18.23) and James Mitchell from William Edwards School in Grays gaining first place in the 12-13 age group with a 6 second personal best time of 2.44.56.
Sisters Katie and Emma Backhurst from Grays Convent both picked up medals in the 100m freestyle. Katie collected a gold in the 13 year age group (1.10.70). Emma collected a Bronze in the 14+ age group (1.07.45), with Amy Hatfield from Aveley picking up gold (1.07.18).
Newcomer 9 year old Sarah Makovics swam a phenomenal 200m individual medley to win her heat with a determined swim to take the lead in the last 10 metres, guaranteeing her a silver medal (3.51.77). Lily Mann swam a 3.24.45 knocking 10 seconds of her personal best time, with twins Abigail and Danielle Sayer from Orsett collecting gold and silver medals respectively.
Saturday mornings session was successfully completed with the boys 100m individual medley with recently birthdayed Thomas Ford age 15 (1.14.67) collecting a silver medal.
Saturday afternoon's session saw Brooke McCarthy pb by 11 seconds to make 2 golds for the McCarthy household, with Whitney Hard swimming to a silver medal in the 14+ age group, both in the girls 200m breaststroke.
Conor Harold, with only one swim of the day made his trip worthwhile with a gold medal in the final heat of the boys 200m breastroke with a 3.02.31.
Saturday's session was completed with 11 year old Nicholas Umbreville achieving a 9 second personal best time (3.36.52) in the boys 9 and over 200m individual medley.
Sundays session started in much the same vain with more medals with 9 year old Eloise Lyons swimming a 9 second personal best time with an excellent swim to pull back from fourth place to second place to secure a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke. Kayleigh Sims also achieved a 9 second personal best time to pick up a bronze in the 10-11 age group.
The younger 9 year olds Joe Rhattigan and Ashley Clarke both displayed the determination of the up and coming swimmers at Thurrock Swimming Club. Joe with a silver medal in the 200m back stroke with an impressive 33 second pb (4.16.13) and Ashley with a 4 second pb in his 50m freestyle. Not to be outdone by his backstroke peer James Paton knocked over 14 seconds off in the 10-11 year age group.
With only one swim each on the day, both Kerriann Chipperfield (1.29.17) and Shannon Harrold (1.24.42) both netted gold medals in the 100m breaststroke, extra specially for Shannon in gaining an Essex qualifying time.
The boys 100m breaststroke saw Charlie Hayes take gold in the 13 year old age group with a personal best time of 1.25.28.
13 year olds Thomas and Alex Mangan of Chafford Hundred Campus both took personal best times home. Thomas in his 200m backstroke (2.50.41) and Alex in his 200m freestyle with an outstanding 2.22.89.
A well-awaited gold medal was won by Francesca Day of The Aveley School with a 2.25.11 for her 200m freestyle beating home team London Borough of Redbridge swimmer 19 year old Alice Scott. 12 year old Emily Neal also set herself a personal best time of 2.49.59 in her 200m freestyle.
A big well done should go to all the younger swimmers for taking part in their first competitive gala outside of Blackshots pool. Personal best times for Emma Cassidy, Georgia Hargreaves, Harry Geggus, Ryan Bygrave and Paige Westbrook portrayed the potential of these up and coming swimmers.
Thanks should go to Katie Backhurst, Brooke and Bobbie McCarthy, Charlie Hayes, Abigail and Danielle Sayer, James Mitchell, Alex Mangan and Francesca Day for donating their £5 first place vouchers to the Club funds raising efforts to the total of £75.
The swimmers began the gala with a 'flying' start, literally, with the girls 200m butterfly, commencing a weekend strewn with medals 118 to be exact, for the borough's only swimming club.
Elite squad swimmer Charlotte Lamb swam a strong 200m butterfly to win silver with an outstanding personal best of 2.46.76 with squad colleague Jessica Ford swimming into gold place with a 2.37.93.
In the boys 200m butterfly 9 year old Bobbie McCarthy from South Ockendon swam an impressive 3.42.94 to secure a gold medal, with Thomas Head placing first in the 10-11 year age group (3.18.23) and James Mitchell from William Edwards School in Grays gaining first place in the 12-13 age group with a 6 second personal best time of 2.44.56.
Sisters Katie and Emma Backhurst from Grays Convent both picked up medals in the 100m freestyle. Katie collected a gold in the 13 year age group (1.10.70). Emma collected a Bronze in the 14+ age group (1.07.45), with Amy Hatfield from Aveley picking up gold (1.07.18).
Newcomer 9 year old Sarah Makovics swam a phenomenal 200m individual medley to win her heat with a determined swim to take the lead in the last 10 metres, guaranteeing her a silver medal (3.51.77). Lily Mann swam a 3.24.45 knocking 10 seconds of her personal best time, with twins Abigail and Danielle Sayer from Orsett collecting gold and silver medals respectively.
Saturday mornings session was successfully completed with the boys 100m individual medley with recently birthdayed Thomas Ford age 15 (1.14.67) collecting a silver medal.
Saturday afternoon's session saw Brooke McCarthy pb by 11 seconds to make 2 golds for the McCarthy household, with Whitney Hard swimming to a silver medal in the 14+ age group, both in the girls 200m breaststroke.
Conor Harold, with only one swim of the day made his trip worthwhile with a gold medal in the final heat of the boys 200m breastroke with a 3.02.31.
Saturday's session was completed with 11 year old Nicholas Umbreville achieving a 9 second personal best time (3.36.52) in the boys 9 and over 200m individual medley.
Sundays session started in much the same vain with more medals with 9 year old Eloise Lyons swimming a 9 second personal best time with an excellent swim to pull back from fourth place to second place to secure a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke. Kayleigh Sims also achieved a 9 second personal best time to pick up a bronze in the 10-11 age group.
The younger 9 year olds Joe Rhattigan and Ashley Clarke both displayed the determination of the up and coming swimmers at Thurrock Swimming Club. Joe with a silver medal in the 200m back stroke with an impressive 33 second pb (4.16.13) and Ashley with a 4 second pb in his 50m freestyle. Not to be outdone by his backstroke peer James Paton knocked over 14 seconds off in the 10-11 year age group.
With only one swim each on the day, both Kerriann Chipperfield (1.29.17) and Shannon Harrold (1.24.42) both netted gold medals in the 100m breaststroke, extra specially for Shannon in gaining an Essex qualifying time.
The boys 100m breaststroke saw Charlie Hayes take gold in the 13 year old age group with a personal best time of 1.25.28.
13 year olds Thomas and Alex Mangan of Chafford Hundred Campus both took personal best times home. Thomas in his 200m backstroke (2.50.41) and Alex in his 200m freestyle with an outstanding 2.22.89.
A well-awaited gold medal was won by Francesca Day of The Aveley School with a 2.25.11 for her 200m freestyle beating home team London Borough of Redbridge swimmer 19 year old Alice Scott. 12 year old Emily Neal also set herself a personal best time of 2.49.59 in her 200m freestyle.
A big well done should go to all the younger swimmers for taking part in their first competitive gala outside of Blackshots pool. Personal best times for Emma Cassidy, Georgia Hargreaves, Harry Geggus, Ryan Bygrave and Paige Westbrook portrayed the potential of these up and coming swimmers.
Thanks should go to Katie Backhurst, Brooke and Bobbie McCarthy, Charlie Hayes, Abigail and Danielle Sayer, James Mitchell, Alex Mangan and Francesca Day for donating their £5 first place vouchers to the Club funds raising efforts to the total of £75.