3 Mar 2007 - Essex Championships - Block C
Thurrock swimming club continued their assault on the Essex County Swimming Championships when they competed in the 3rd block of the championships at Blackshots Leisure Centre on the 3rd and 4th March.
Thirteen year Braden Wren got the borough team off to a flying start when he swam to victory in the gruelling 60 length 1500m freestyle (17:30.00). Also competing was team mate Charlie Hayes who smashed his personal best for the 2nd time in a week to claim a well deserved 6th place (18:29.81). The duo went on to show strength and character to bring home the silver and bronze medals in another tough event; the 200m butterfly. Braden claimed the silver (2:24.33) and Charlie not only took bronze but also earned the national qualifying standard for this event, with a time of 2:25.78.
Thurrock's male success did not stop there, as 11 year old Bradley Clarke claimed a silver medal and national qualifying time in the 200m back (2:39.07), with team mate Gareth Hawkins following closely to take 4th spot (2:42.44). Bradley then went one better to claim a championship title in the 400m freestyle (4:55.95).
Ten year old Joe Brown from Grays was also in medal winning form taking victory in the boys 10 yrs 200m butterfly (2:57.83). He was joined by 9 year old Salaam Motin who swam to yet another championship title, this time in the 200m back (2:54.71). Twin brother Kalaam swam to 6th place in the same event (3:13.74), with Bobbie McCarthy claiming 4th place (3:07.88).
Completing the boy's assault on the top 6 places was 14 year old Gable Hall student Conor Harrold, who swam to 5th places in both the 100m and 200m back (1:09.40 & 2:24.91).
There were also medals a plenty for Thurrock's female swimmers as it was a case of normal service resumed in most age groups. Nine year old Rachael Moore claimed a bronze medal in the 200m breast (3:35.35) and 11 year old Amy Beardwell Lacey claimed 4th and 6th places in the 100m and 200m IM (1:20.05 & 2:46.91).
Ten year old Amy Gore collected another 2 county titles winning both the 100m IM (1:18.36) and 200m Breast (3:01.62), the latter being a stunning Essex County record. In the same age group Kayleigh Sims took the silver in the 200m breast (3:04.30), while Katherine Stephens added to her growing collection of county silverware by claiming silver and bronze medals in the 100m IM (1:19.99) and 200m breast (3:17.26).
In the girls 13 year age group, Kerriann Chipperfield continued her dominance of the freestyle events, this time taking gold in the 800m (9:30.33) and 200m (2:13.71) and silver in the 100m (1:04.13). Kerriann completed another successful weekend by taking bronze in the 100m IM (1:13.67).
Twin sisters Danielle and Abigail Sayer were also in fine form with Danielle taking 2nd, 3rd and 5th places in the 800m free (9:35.60), 100m back (1:12.17) and 200m back (2:31.84). National qualifier Abigail took an impressive silver in the 200m back (2:29.32), 4th in the 100m back (1:12.32) and two 5th places in the 800m free (9:55.57) and 200m free (2:17.85). Experienced county butterfly champion Megan Langridge showed her versatility when she collected another impressive bag of medals in the same 13 year age category. Megan took gold in the 200m back (2:28.07), silver in the 100m back (1:10.57) and 5th and 6th places in the 100m IM (1:14.09) and 800m free (10:06.97).
Fourteen year old trio, Georgina Hunt, Molly Epsly and Charlotte Lamb once again remarkably took all 3 medal positions in another 2 events. In the 800m freestyle Georgina and Molly were separated by a finger nail as Georgina took gold (9:22.32), Molly the silver (9:22.46), with Charlotte taking bronze (9:40.28). This one, two, three finish was repeated in the 200m free and Georgina and Molly went on to collect gold and silver respectively in the 100m fly.
Georgina then claimed yet another 1st place in the 200m breast (2:47.36), with team mate Charlotte swimming an outstanding final 50m to make up 3 places and take the silver (2:48.71). Whitney Hard joined in on the fourteen year old's success by taking 6th spot in the 100m breast (1:25.49).
Finally the borough teams senior girls Shannon Harrold and Jessica Ford took to the pool and they did not disappoint. Both girls won their respective 1500m freestyle events - Shannon (17:31.51) and Jessica (17:25.24). Shannon went on to claim silver in the 15 years 400m IM (5:09.64) while Jessica took the bronze in the same 16 year event (5:04.34).
The outstanding recent success of Thurrock's talented swimmers has been rewarded further with quartet; Georgina Hunt, Molly Epsly, Megan Langridge and Kerriann Chipperfield all being selected to attend one of the prestigious East Region Development swimming camps, in April this year.
Thirteen year Braden Wren got the borough team off to a flying start when he swam to victory in the gruelling 60 length 1500m freestyle (17:30.00). Also competing was team mate Charlie Hayes who smashed his personal best for the 2nd time in a week to claim a well deserved 6th place (18:29.81). The duo went on to show strength and character to bring home the silver and bronze medals in another tough event; the 200m butterfly. Braden claimed the silver (2:24.33) and Charlie not only took bronze but also earned the national qualifying standard for this event, with a time of 2:25.78.
Thurrock's male success did not stop there, as 11 year old Bradley Clarke claimed a silver medal and national qualifying time in the 200m back (2:39.07), with team mate Gareth Hawkins following closely to take 4th spot (2:42.44). Bradley then went one better to claim a championship title in the 400m freestyle (4:55.95).
Ten year old Joe Brown from Grays was also in medal winning form taking victory in the boys 10 yrs 200m butterfly (2:57.83). He was joined by 9 year old Salaam Motin who swam to yet another championship title, this time in the 200m back (2:54.71). Twin brother Kalaam swam to 6th place in the same event (3:13.74), with Bobbie McCarthy claiming 4th place (3:07.88).
Completing the boy's assault on the top 6 places was 14 year old Gable Hall student Conor Harrold, who swam to 5th places in both the 100m and 200m back (1:09.40 & 2:24.91).
There were also medals a plenty for Thurrock's female swimmers as it was a case of normal service resumed in most age groups. Nine year old Rachael Moore claimed a bronze medal in the 200m breast (3:35.35) and 11 year old Amy Beardwell Lacey claimed 4th and 6th places in the 100m and 200m IM (1:20.05 & 2:46.91).
Ten year old Amy Gore collected another 2 county titles winning both the 100m IM (1:18.36) and 200m Breast (3:01.62), the latter being a stunning Essex County record. In the same age group Kayleigh Sims took the silver in the 200m breast (3:04.30), while Katherine Stephens added to her growing collection of county silverware by claiming silver and bronze medals in the 100m IM (1:19.99) and 200m breast (3:17.26).
In the girls 13 year age group, Kerriann Chipperfield continued her dominance of the freestyle events, this time taking gold in the 800m (9:30.33) and 200m (2:13.71) and silver in the 100m (1:04.13). Kerriann completed another successful weekend by taking bronze in the 100m IM (1:13.67).
Twin sisters Danielle and Abigail Sayer were also in fine form with Danielle taking 2nd, 3rd and 5th places in the 800m free (9:35.60), 100m back (1:12.17) and 200m back (2:31.84). National qualifier Abigail took an impressive silver in the 200m back (2:29.32), 4th in the 100m back (1:12.32) and two 5th places in the 800m free (9:55.57) and 200m free (2:17.85). Experienced county butterfly champion Megan Langridge showed her versatility when she collected another impressive bag of medals in the same 13 year age category. Megan took gold in the 200m back (2:28.07), silver in the 100m back (1:10.57) and 5th and 6th places in the 100m IM (1:14.09) and 800m free (10:06.97).
Fourteen year old trio, Georgina Hunt, Molly Epsly and Charlotte Lamb once again remarkably took all 3 medal positions in another 2 events. In the 800m freestyle Georgina and Molly were separated by a finger nail as Georgina took gold (9:22.32), Molly the silver (9:22.46), with Charlotte taking bronze (9:40.28). This one, two, three finish was repeated in the 200m free and Georgina and Molly went on to collect gold and silver respectively in the 100m fly.
Georgina then claimed yet another 1st place in the 200m breast (2:47.36), with team mate Charlotte swimming an outstanding final 50m to make up 3 places and take the silver (2:48.71). Whitney Hard joined in on the fourteen year old's success by taking 6th spot in the 100m breast (1:25.49).
Finally the borough teams senior girls Shannon Harrold and Jessica Ford took to the pool and they did not disappoint. Both girls won their respective 1500m freestyle events - Shannon (17:31.51) and Jessica (17:25.24). Shannon went on to claim silver in the 15 years 400m IM (5:09.64) while Jessica took the bronze in the same 16 year event (5:04.34).
The outstanding recent success of Thurrock's talented swimmers has been rewarded further with quartet; Georgina Hunt, Molly Epsly, Megan Langridge and Kerriann Chipperfield all being selected to attend one of the prestigious East Region Development swimming camps, in April this year.
