25 Mar 2007 - Thurrock Swimming Club win the County Championships
Thurrock Swimming Club were recently crowned Essex County Swimming Champions following four weekends of quality swimming, high drama and great joy.
The team were presented with the top club trophy by Essex ASA president Kay McGuire in front of a capacity cheering crowd at Blackshots Swimming Pool in Grays. The borough team beat off strong competition from 22 other Essex based swimming clubs and amassed a total of 1326 points - 164 points ahead of 2nd place Borough of Redbridge and 271 points ahead of 3rd place Romford Town.
Speaking afterwards, chief coach Alex Morgan said "as Chief Coach this is the most satisfying County Championship win so far, the children swam brilliantly and have been a delight to train. The current atmosphere at the Club is extremely focused and happy, furthermore, with nearly a dozen children qualifying for Nationals the coaching team are looking forward to the rest of the season. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in our success".
Club Secretary Phil Nice added his congratulations and highlighted the hard work which the clubs coaches and teachers have put in to achieve this success. "Over the last six years, we have invested a great deal of time gaining SWIM 21 accreditation and then further developing these themes alongside the ASA Long Term Athlete development plan and National Plan for teaching Swimming. Together with the partnerships we have forged with facility providers, other swim schools, the local authority and sports councils, the result is a streamlined, well organised community swimming club which gives the opportunity for swimmers from our area to fully develop their talent .
We fully recognise that none of this is possible without the extreme hard work of our swimmers, the support of their parents and the combined efforts of a small army of volunteers and helpers, all of whom are extremely proud of what the swimmers have worked so hard to achieve in the pool.
The Essex Championships take place over 4 weekends, during the course of which the Counties best swimmers from age 9 upwards, compete in a series of highly competitive races spanning all swimming strokes at distances ranging from 50 metres to gruelling 60 length 1500m races. During the course of the competition, Thurrock swimmers produced an incredible 197 swims where they were placed in the top 6 or above.
In the final block of competition held on the 25 and 26 March, Thurrock swimmers once again showed their quality. Ten year old Katherine Stephens produced some eye catching swimming with two outstanding gold medals in the 200m butterfly (2:53.25) and 200m freestyle (2:26.69). Katherine was joined by successful 10 year olds, Rebecca Hayes, Melissa Cowell and Georgia Mills, who all once again collected an impressive haul of medals and top 6 places. Fellow 10 year old Amy Gore also had reason to celebrate as she smashed a 2nd Essex County record - this time the 400m IM (5:48.12) and not surprisingly took the gold medal in the process. Amy?s fine set of results throughout the championship were rewarded when she was crowned top BAGCAT points winner in the girls 10 year age group.
There was also double celebration for 11 year old St Thomas of Canterbury pupil Amy Beardwell Lacey. Amy not only took gold and silver medals in the 200m and 100m butterfly (2:41.96 & 1:15.06), but also proved she is among the countries best 11 year olds by qualifying for the UK national championships in both events.
Success in the 13 year category continued with Megan Langridge again taking a double gold in the 200m and 400m IM (2:32.88 & 5:16.75). Fellow Grays school, student Charlie Hayes claimed his 2nd national qualifying time in as many weeks in the 400m IM (5:06.09) and also took the bronze medal in the process. Regular medal winners Braden Wren, Abigail Sayer and Danielle Sayer also waded in with excellent swims which once again earned them more medal success. The strength in depth of the borough's 13 year old swimmers was proven as Canvey based Kerriann Chipperfield was not only crowned top 13 year old girl, but also received the Captains trophy for accumulating the highest number of BAGCAT point across all age groups.
This year's county championships have also been a very successful competition for Thurrock's 14 year old contingent. Charlotte Lamb produced yet another fine display of swimming to collect another set of medals across 3 different events. Team mate Georgina Hunt once again produced yet another electrifying set of swims, which included a gold medal winning performance in the 200m IM (2:29.81) to add to four other silver medals won across a range of different events. Georgina?s dominance of this age group was rewarded when she was crowned top girl in the 14 year category.
The youngest competitors at the final block of competition also maintained the medal winning habit. Nine year olds Rachael Moore, Rose Merritt and Bobbie McCarthy again swam to medals and top six placings, but it was team mate Salaam Motin who claimed gold?s in the 200m breast (3:20.28) and 200m IM (2:56.67) to add to an impressive collection of top three finishes in the previous blocks of competition. These performances made Salaam the 4th Thurrock swimmer to be crowned top BAGCAT points winner in his age group.
Other notable top six and medal winning performances were recorded by siblings Conor and Shannon Harrold, Jessica Ford, Amy Hatfield, Joe Brown and Bradley Clarke. Bradley swam to a silver medal in the boys 11 years 200m freestyle (2:21.99), a performance which earned him his 4th national qualifying time of the season.
Thurrock's county winning team was made up of the following swimmers; Salaam Motin, Bobbie McCarthy, James Day, Jake Mills, Kalaam Motin, Rachael Moore, Rose Merritt, Sarah Makovics, Joe Brown, Harry Gegguss, Katherine Stephens, Amy Gore, Rebecca Hayes, Melissa Cowell, Georgia Mills, Kayleigh Sims, Lily Mann, Bradley Clarke, Gareth Hawkins, Sonny Ford, Charlie Hard, Thomas Head, Amy Beardwell-Lacey, Brooke McCarthy, Emily Neal, Braden Wren, Charlie Hayes, Alex Mangan, Thomas Mangan, Megan Langridge, Kerriann Chipperfield, Abigail Sayer, Danielle Sayer, Katie Backhurst, Conor Harrold, James Mitchell, Georgina Hunt, Charlotte Lamb, Amy Hatfield, Molly Epsly, Whitney Hard, Shannon Harrold, Francesca Day, Emma Backhurst, Tom Ford, Jessica Ford and coaches Alex Morgan, Gary Couch, Debbie Grix and Paul Hayes.
The team were presented with the top club trophy by Essex ASA president Kay McGuire in front of a capacity cheering crowd at Blackshots Swimming Pool in Grays. The borough team beat off strong competition from 22 other Essex based swimming clubs and amassed a total of 1326 points - 164 points ahead of 2nd place Borough of Redbridge and 271 points ahead of 3rd place Romford Town.
Speaking afterwards, chief coach Alex Morgan said "as Chief Coach this is the most satisfying County Championship win so far, the children swam brilliantly and have been a delight to train. The current atmosphere at the Club is extremely focused and happy, furthermore, with nearly a dozen children qualifying for Nationals the coaching team are looking forward to the rest of the season. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in our success".
Club Secretary Phil Nice added his congratulations and highlighted the hard work which the clubs coaches and teachers have put in to achieve this success. "Over the last six years, we have invested a great deal of time gaining SWIM 21 accreditation and then further developing these themes alongside the ASA Long Term Athlete development plan and National Plan for teaching Swimming. Together with the partnerships we have forged with facility providers, other swim schools, the local authority and sports councils, the result is a streamlined, well organised community swimming club which gives the opportunity for swimmers from our area to fully develop their talent .
We fully recognise that none of this is possible without the extreme hard work of our swimmers, the support of their parents and the combined efforts of a small army of volunteers and helpers, all of whom are extremely proud of what the swimmers have worked so hard to achieve in the pool.
The Essex Championships take place over 4 weekends, during the course of which the Counties best swimmers from age 9 upwards, compete in a series of highly competitive races spanning all swimming strokes at distances ranging from 50 metres to gruelling 60 length 1500m races. During the course of the competition, Thurrock swimmers produced an incredible 197 swims where they were placed in the top 6 or above.
In the final block of competition held on the 25 and 26 March, Thurrock swimmers once again showed their quality. Ten year old Katherine Stephens produced some eye catching swimming with two outstanding gold medals in the 200m butterfly (2:53.25) and 200m freestyle (2:26.69). Katherine was joined by successful 10 year olds, Rebecca Hayes, Melissa Cowell and Georgia Mills, who all once again collected an impressive haul of medals and top 6 places. Fellow 10 year old Amy Gore also had reason to celebrate as she smashed a 2nd Essex County record - this time the 400m IM (5:48.12) and not surprisingly took the gold medal in the process. Amy?s fine set of results throughout the championship were rewarded when she was crowned top BAGCAT points winner in the girls 10 year age group.
There was also double celebration for 11 year old St Thomas of Canterbury pupil Amy Beardwell Lacey. Amy not only took gold and silver medals in the 200m and 100m butterfly (2:41.96 & 1:15.06), but also proved she is among the countries best 11 year olds by qualifying for the UK national championships in both events.
Success in the 13 year category continued with Megan Langridge again taking a double gold in the 200m and 400m IM (2:32.88 & 5:16.75). Fellow Grays school, student Charlie Hayes claimed his 2nd national qualifying time in as many weeks in the 400m IM (5:06.09) and also took the bronze medal in the process. Regular medal winners Braden Wren, Abigail Sayer and Danielle Sayer also waded in with excellent swims which once again earned them more medal success. The strength in depth of the borough's 13 year old swimmers was proven as Canvey based Kerriann Chipperfield was not only crowned top 13 year old girl, but also received the Captains trophy for accumulating the highest number of BAGCAT point across all age groups.
This year's county championships have also been a very successful competition for Thurrock's 14 year old contingent. Charlotte Lamb produced yet another fine display of swimming to collect another set of medals across 3 different events. Team mate Georgina Hunt once again produced yet another electrifying set of swims, which included a gold medal winning performance in the 200m IM (2:29.81) to add to four other silver medals won across a range of different events. Georgina?s dominance of this age group was rewarded when she was crowned top girl in the 14 year category.
The youngest competitors at the final block of competition also maintained the medal winning habit. Nine year olds Rachael Moore, Rose Merritt and Bobbie McCarthy again swam to medals and top six placings, but it was team mate Salaam Motin who claimed gold?s in the 200m breast (3:20.28) and 200m IM (2:56.67) to add to an impressive collection of top three finishes in the previous blocks of competition. These performances made Salaam the 4th Thurrock swimmer to be crowned top BAGCAT points winner in his age group.
Other notable top six and medal winning performances were recorded by siblings Conor and Shannon Harrold, Jessica Ford, Amy Hatfield, Joe Brown and Bradley Clarke. Bradley swam to a silver medal in the boys 11 years 200m freestyle (2:21.99), a performance which earned him his 4th national qualifying time of the season.
Thurrock's county winning team was made up of the following swimmers; Salaam Motin, Bobbie McCarthy, James Day, Jake Mills, Kalaam Motin, Rachael Moore, Rose Merritt, Sarah Makovics, Joe Brown, Harry Gegguss, Katherine Stephens, Amy Gore, Rebecca Hayes, Melissa Cowell, Georgia Mills, Kayleigh Sims, Lily Mann, Bradley Clarke, Gareth Hawkins, Sonny Ford, Charlie Hard, Thomas Head, Amy Beardwell-Lacey, Brooke McCarthy, Emily Neal, Braden Wren, Charlie Hayes, Alex Mangan, Thomas Mangan, Megan Langridge, Kerriann Chipperfield, Abigail Sayer, Danielle Sayer, Katie Backhurst, Conor Harrold, James Mitchell, Georgina Hunt, Charlotte Lamb, Amy Hatfield, Molly Epsly, Whitney Hard, Shannon Harrold, Francesca Day, Emma Backhurst, Tom Ford, Jessica Ford and coaches Alex Morgan, Gary Couch, Debbie Grix and Paul Hayes.