15 Apr 2007 - Crawley and Speedo Galas
With the Essex Champsionship safely in the bag for another year, Thurrock Swimming Club turned its attention to the younger squad members who participated in the first round of the Junior Speedo League held recently at Blackshots Leisure Centre. Thurrock have finished in the top three places of division one in this league for the last six years and the 2007 team look set to repeat this, when they scored a 22 point victory against some tough opposition from Ruislip, Barnet, Braintree, Rochford and Enfield.
This gala is a good indicator of the future strength of the clubs taking part. Certainly the team from Thurrock promise great things with the 9 year old boys winning all of their races outright.
The team of George Epsly, Jake Mills, Kieran Gore and Bobbie McCarthy stormed to victory in both the 4 x 25m freestyle and medley relays. The boys then went on to win all of their individual races; Jake the 25m back (20.18), Kieran the 25m breast (22.11) and Bobbie the 25m free (16.18) and 25m fly (17.00).
This total domination of events across a single age group was emulated by the borough's 11 year old boys. Continuing their success of recent years, Gareth Hawkins, Bradley Clarke, Sonny Ford and Thomas Head combined to win the 4 x 25m freestyle relay and were joined by Joe Brown, when winning the medley relay. Gareth went on to win the 50m back (35.99), Bradley the 50m breast (43.73) and 50m free (32.94) with Sonny winning the 50m fly in both the 11 year and 12 year age categories (36.28 and 36.34).
The team of girls representing the borough in the 11 year age group, were in top form. Melissa Cowell, Georgia Mills, Katherine Stephens and Amy Gore combined to win the 4 x 25m freestyle relay and were joined by Kayleigh Sims when winning the medley relay. Individual wins were claimed by Katherine in the 50m fly (35.62) and 50m free (32.36), while Kayleigh swam to victory in both the 11yrs and 12yrs 50m breast events (41.46 and 41.07). Swimming up an age group, Amy Gore went on to win the 12 yr 50m free (33.12).
Further wins were recorded by Salaam Motin who won the boys 10 year 50m breast (45.76) and Amy Beardwell-Lacey in the 12 year 50m fly (35.72). Amy then combined with Katherine Stephens, Kayleigh Sims, Georgia Mills and Amy Gore to win both the 12 years 4 x 25m medley and freestyle relays.
Completing Thurrock's success was 12 year old Charlie Hard who claimed 2nd place in the 50m breast (45.54), Rachael Moore who took two 2nd places in the 10 year 50m back (40.02) and 50m breast (47.28) and James Day; 2nd in both the 10 years 50m fly (40.02) and 50m free (35.98). Not to be outdone, speedo 1st timer Eloise Lyons took 2nd spot in the girls 9 year 50m breast (25.51), with Georgia Mills taking 3rd place in the 11 years 50m back (39.94) and Rose Merritt also claiming 3rd in the 10 years 50m fly (43.64).
The boroughs nine year old girl contingent of Eloise Lyons, Lucy Sapsford, Tillie Geggus and Hope Jones all had their first taste of a competitive gala of this kind and performed magnificently in all their events.
Across the four different age groups, Thurrock's swimmers shone, impressing the many spectators, some of whom were experiencing the thrills and intense excitement of competitive swimming for the first time. Team manager Debbie Grix praised all of the Thurrock the swimmers for another superb effort and the club now look forward to round two of this event which takes place on 6th May.
Meanwhile on a Sonny Day in Crawley........
some of the borough's more experienced swimmers competed at the Crawley Long Course Spring Open meet. Competing at the state of the art K2 Leisure Centre complex on the hottest day of the year, borough swimmers once against produced some outstanding performances.
It was certainly a bright shining day for 11 year old Sonny Ford. Now back to full fitness, the Stifford Clays pupil claimed a resounding victory in the 11 years and under 200m butterfly (2:49.49).
Fellow 11 year olds Amy Beardwell-Lacey and Bradley Clarke also collected podium finishes. Amy took silver in the 200m fly (2:48.59) to add to bronze in the 100m fly (1:17.74), Amy also gained her 3rd national qualifying time of the season, swimming an impressive 5:48.72 in the 400m IM. Bradley collected a bronze in the 200m IM (2:51.12).
Thirteen year old Charlie Hayes kept up his recent medal winning ways when he claimed gold in the 13 year 400 IM (5:18.08) and bronze in the 200m fly (2:33.31). In the same age category, the experienced Megan Langridge collected 2 golds in the 200m fly (2:29.35) and 200m back (2:36.27) and a bronze in the 100m fly (1:11.30). This completed a satisfying fortnight for Megan, who two weeks previous swam to a long course national qualifying time in the 200m fly at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
There was more national qualifying success for 14 year olds Georgia Hunt and Molly Epsly. Both girls endured the gruelling long distance freestyle events; Molly the 800m (9:35.59) and Georgina the 1500m (8:18.48) and their superb efforts mean they will now compete against the Britain's best at the national age group championships later this year.
Competing in the same 14/15 year age group, Corringham based Shannon Harold took a silver medal in the 400m IM (5:22.95). Ten year old Amy Gore (200m breast; 3:07.85), and 13 year old Kerriann Chipperfield (200m fly; 2:34.14) swam to impressive bronze medal placings.
This gala is a good indicator of the future strength of the clubs taking part. Certainly the team from Thurrock promise great things with the 9 year old boys winning all of their races outright.
The team of George Epsly, Jake Mills, Kieran Gore and Bobbie McCarthy stormed to victory in both the 4 x 25m freestyle and medley relays. The boys then went on to win all of their individual races; Jake the 25m back (20.18), Kieran the 25m breast (22.11) and Bobbie the 25m free (16.18) and 25m fly (17.00).
This total domination of events across a single age group was emulated by the borough's 11 year old boys. Continuing their success of recent years, Gareth Hawkins, Bradley Clarke, Sonny Ford and Thomas Head combined to win the 4 x 25m freestyle relay and were joined by Joe Brown, when winning the medley relay. Gareth went on to win the 50m back (35.99), Bradley the 50m breast (43.73) and 50m free (32.94) with Sonny winning the 50m fly in both the 11 year and 12 year age categories (36.28 and 36.34).
The team of girls representing the borough in the 11 year age group, were in top form. Melissa Cowell, Georgia Mills, Katherine Stephens and Amy Gore combined to win the 4 x 25m freestyle relay and were joined by Kayleigh Sims when winning the medley relay. Individual wins were claimed by Katherine in the 50m fly (35.62) and 50m free (32.36), while Kayleigh swam to victory in both the 11yrs and 12yrs 50m breast events (41.46 and 41.07). Swimming up an age group, Amy Gore went on to win the 12 yr 50m free (33.12).
Further wins were recorded by Salaam Motin who won the boys 10 year 50m breast (45.76) and Amy Beardwell-Lacey in the 12 year 50m fly (35.72). Amy then combined with Katherine Stephens, Kayleigh Sims, Georgia Mills and Amy Gore to win both the 12 years 4 x 25m medley and freestyle relays.
Completing Thurrock's success was 12 year old Charlie Hard who claimed 2nd place in the 50m breast (45.54), Rachael Moore who took two 2nd places in the 10 year 50m back (40.02) and 50m breast (47.28) and James Day; 2nd in both the 10 years 50m fly (40.02) and 50m free (35.98). Not to be outdone, speedo 1st timer Eloise Lyons took 2nd spot in the girls 9 year 50m breast (25.51), with Georgia Mills taking 3rd place in the 11 years 50m back (39.94) and Rose Merritt also claiming 3rd in the 10 years 50m fly (43.64).
The boroughs nine year old girl contingent of Eloise Lyons, Lucy Sapsford, Tillie Geggus and Hope Jones all had their first taste of a competitive gala of this kind and performed magnificently in all their events.
Across the four different age groups, Thurrock's swimmers shone, impressing the many spectators, some of whom were experiencing the thrills and intense excitement of competitive swimming for the first time. Team manager Debbie Grix praised all of the Thurrock the swimmers for another superb effort and the club now look forward to round two of this event which takes place on 6th May.
Meanwhile on a Sonny Day in Crawley........
some of the borough's more experienced swimmers competed at the Crawley Long Course Spring Open meet. Competing at the state of the art K2 Leisure Centre complex on the hottest day of the year, borough swimmers once against produced some outstanding performances.
It was certainly a bright shining day for 11 year old Sonny Ford. Now back to full fitness, the Stifford Clays pupil claimed a resounding victory in the 11 years and under 200m butterfly (2:49.49).
Fellow 11 year olds Amy Beardwell-Lacey and Bradley Clarke also collected podium finishes. Amy took silver in the 200m fly (2:48.59) to add to bronze in the 100m fly (1:17.74), Amy also gained her 3rd national qualifying time of the season, swimming an impressive 5:48.72 in the 400m IM. Bradley collected a bronze in the 200m IM (2:51.12).
Thirteen year old Charlie Hayes kept up his recent medal winning ways when he claimed gold in the 13 year 400 IM (5:18.08) and bronze in the 200m fly (2:33.31). In the same age category, the experienced Megan Langridge collected 2 golds in the 200m fly (2:29.35) and 200m back (2:36.27) and a bronze in the 100m fly (1:11.30). This completed a satisfying fortnight for Megan, who two weeks previous swam to a long course national qualifying time in the 200m fly at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
There was more national qualifying success for 14 year olds Georgia Hunt and Molly Epsly. Both girls endured the gruelling long distance freestyle events; Molly the 800m (9:35.59) and Georgina the 1500m (8:18.48) and their superb efforts mean they will now compete against the Britain's best at the national age group championships later this year.
Competing in the same 14/15 year age group, Corringham based Shannon Harold took a silver medal in the 400m IM (5:22.95). Ten year old Amy Gore (200m breast; 3:07.85), and 13 year old Kerriann Chipperfield (200m fly; 2:34.14) swam to impressive bronze medal placings.