31 Mar 2007 - Long Course Success at the Palace
Fresh from their success at the Essex County Swimming Championships, Thurrock's swimming stars were straight back in the thick of the action in their first long course competition of the season. Competing at the soon to be refurbished Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, the borough swimmers tested their strength and speed against other top swimmers from the south east of the country.
In the boys 9/10 year category, 10 year old Joe Brown swam to hat trick of victories in the 200m IM (2:59.42), 100m and 200m butterfly (1:24.13 & 3:01.30). Not be done outdone, team mate Salaam Motin collected bronze medals in the 100m and 200m breast (1:40.38 & 3:29.79), 200m free (2:42.23) and 100m back (1:28.23). Chafford Hundred based James Day, also 9, swam to an impressive 4th spot in the 100m fly (1:34.24), while 9 year old Bobbie McCarthy took 5th place in the 100m breast (1:46.98).
Despite competing in a tough 11/12 year category, the borough's 11 year old boys still produced some quality top 6 finishes. Bradley Clarke took 4th place in the 20m breast (3:11.08) and Ockendon based Gareth Hawkins swam to 5th spot in the 200m back (2:47.76). Fellow 11 year old Sonny Ford claimed 5th spot in the 400m IM (6:06.53) and 6th place in the 200m fly (2:50.27).
Completing the boys assault on the top 6th places were 13 year olds Braden Wren and Charlie Hayes. Competing in the 13/14 year category Braden took 5th spot in the 200m fly (2:28.00) with Charlie following closely in 6th. The positions were reversed in the 400m IM with Charlie swimming a long course national qualifying time to take 5th place (5:14.18) and Braden taking 6th.
For the girls, 13 year Megan Langridge continued her impressive run of form when she produced a stunning 200m butterfly swim to win gold in the 13/14 year age group and secure a long course national qualifying time (2:28.30). Megan also swam to gold in the 100m event (1:10.84) and 3rd and 4th places in the 400m IM and 200m back.
Megan's winning streak rubbed off on the girls competing in the 9/10 year category, when Katherine Stephens took a hat trick of gold medals in the 200m free (2:35.34), 200m back (2:52.49) and 200m IM (2:55.67). South Stifford based Rebecca Hayes also took gold in the 400m free (5:18.70) to add to silvers in the 200m free and 200m IM. In the same age group, Amy Gore won double gold in the 100m and 200m breast (1:38.38 & 3:11.22) with Kayleigh Sims following closely to take both silvers (1:30.10 & 3:12.04). Amy went on the collect silvers in the 100m and 200m back with Georgia Mills taking 5th and 6th places.
Up an age group in the girls 11/12 year category, 11 year old Amy Beardwell-Lacey claimed two 4th places in the 200m fly (2:51.76) and 400m IM (5:50.13).
Back in the girls 13/14 age group, seasoned campaigners Georgina Hunt, Charlotte Lamb, Kerriann Chipperfield and Molly Epsly all secured impressive top 6 places. Georgina-two bronze medals in the 200m free and 100m fly (2:16.91 & 1:11.61), Charlotte-a bronze in the strength sapping 1500m free to add to 5th places in the 200m and 400m free (2:19.19 & 4:49.59), Molly-bronze in the 400m freestyle (4:44.32) and 4th in the 200m fly and Kerriann 4th, 5th and 6th in the 400m free, 200m and 100m fly.
Whitney Hard from Grays completed the success in this age group with a 6th place n the 100m breast (1:25.45). Other fine top 6 swims were recorded by Melissa Cowell in the 9/10 year 200m free (2:38.92) and Shannon Harold in the girls 15/16 years 400m free (4:47.10).
In the boys 9/10 year category, 10 year old Joe Brown swam to hat trick of victories in the 200m IM (2:59.42), 100m and 200m butterfly (1:24.13 & 3:01.30). Not be done outdone, team mate Salaam Motin collected bronze medals in the 100m and 200m breast (1:40.38 & 3:29.79), 200m free (2:42.23) and 100m back (1:28.23). Chafford Hundred based James Day, also 9, swam to an impressive 4th spot in the 100m fly (1:34.24), while 9 year old Bobbie McCarthy took 5th place in the 100m breast (1:46.98).
Despite competing in a tough 11/12 year category, the borough's 11 year old boys still produced some quality top 6 finishes. Bradley Clarke took 4th place in the 20m breast (3:11.08) and Ockendon based Gareth Hawkins swam to 5th spot in the 200m back (2:47.76). Fellow 11 year old Sonny Ford claimed 5th spot in the 400m IM (6:06.53) and 6th place in the 200m fly (2:50.27).
Completing the boys assault on the top 6th places were 13 year olds Braden Wren and Charlie Hayes. Competing in the 13/14 year category Braden took 5th spot in the 200m fly (2:28.00) with Charlie following closely in 6th. The positions were reversed in the 400m IM with Charlie swimming a long course national qualifying time to take 5th place (5:14.18) and Braden taking 6th.
For the girls, 13 year Megan Langridge continued her impressive run of form when she produced a stunning 200m butterfly swim to win gold in the 13/14 year age group and secure a long course national qualifying time (2:28.30). Megan also swam to gold in the 100m event (1:10.84) and 3rd and 4th places in the 400m IM and 200m back.
Megan's winning streak rubbed off on the girls competing in the 9/10 year category, when Katherine Stephens took a hat trick of gold medals in the 200m free (2:35.34), 200m back (2:52.49) and 200m IM (2:55.67). South Stifford based Rebecca Hayes also took gold in the 400m free (5:18.70) to add to silvers in the 200m free and 200m IM. In the same age group, Amy Gore won double gold in the 100m and 200m breast (1:38.38 & 3:11.22) with Kayleigh Sims following closely to take both silvers (1:30.10 & 3:12.04). Amy went on the collect silvers in the 100m and 200m back with Georgia Mills taking 5th and 6th places.
Up an age group in the girls 11/12 year category, 11 year old Amy Beardwell-Lacey claimed two 4th places in the 200m fly (2:51.76) and 400m IM (5:50.13).
Back in the girls 13/14 age group, seasoned campaigners Georgina Hunt, Charlotte Lamb, Kerriann Chipperfield and Molly Epsly all secured impressive top 6 places. Georgina-two bronze medals in the 200m free and 100m fly (2:16.91 & 1:11.61), Charlotte-a bronze in the strength sapping 1500m free to add to 5th places in the 200m and 400m free (2:19.19 & 4:49.59), Molly-bronze in the 400m freestyle (4:44.32) and 4th in the 200m fly and Kerriann 4th, 5th and 6th in the 400m free, 200m and 100m fly.
Whitney Hard from Grays completed the success in this age group with a 6th place n the 100m breast (1:25.45). Other fine top 6 swims were recorded by Melissa Cowell in the 9/10 year 200m free (2:38.92) and Shannon Harold in the girls 15/16 years 400m free (4:47.10).