5 May 2007 - The Youth Championship for the East region
The Youth Championship for the East region was held at the University of East Anglia in Norwich over the bank holiday weekend 5 - 7 May. Thurrrock sent a determined team of 8 girls aged 14 and over to compete. Such were their skills that they had to choose what events they swam as they had qualified for so many.
The meet started well with the team set to compete against the very best swimmers in the East of England. After a full session of heats the first final, the 1500m took place. Shannon Harold collected bronze in the 15 and under category with Molly Epsly coming fourth. In the 16 and over group Jessica Ford gained silver and Emma Backhurst came fourth with an excellent personal best. Jessica also achieved a national qualifying time in this event. After a two hour rest they then went on to compete in the relay and individual finals. In the 400m freestyle relay the young Thurrock team of four girls faced teams who were much older but swam with determination and gained fifth place. To round off the day Georgia Hunt came fourth in the 15 and under 200m Breaststroke and Jessica came in at fifth in the 16 and over event.
Sunday opened with the challenging 400m Individual Medley. The 15 years and under swimmers swam against some spirited opposition with Shannon being placed fifth. However, when it came to the 16 and over category Jessica, who already has a national time for this event, swam her heart out gaining first place, a gold medal and becoming East Champion. This morning session ended with the 800m freestyle where, in the 15 and under group Georgia managed third with Shannon gaining fourth place and just missing the national qualifying time.
In the 16 and over group Jessica, still buzzing from her earlier success gained a silver medal. In the finals, 2 hours later, the 800m relay team achieved fifth place. However, in the 200m butterfly event for the 15 and under, Megan Langridge astounded all by gaining the national qualifying times for the 14, 15 and 16 year age group as she stormed into silver medal position with Molly Epsly closely following in bronze position.
On the last day, Monday, the Thurrock team again challenged well in the 400m medley relay and came in fifth whilst in the individual events Megan was placed in the 100m butterfly and Jessica was also placed in the 200m individual medley.
The team were Jessica Ford, Emma Backhurst, Shannon Harold, Charlotte Lamb, Megan Langridge, Georgia Hunt, Molly Epsly and Amy Hatfield.
The meet started well with the team set to compete against the very best swimmers in the East of England. After a full session of heats the first final, the 1500m took place. Shannon Harold collected bronze in the 15 and under category with Molly Epsly coming fourth. In the 16 and over group Jessica Ford gained silver and Emma Backhurst came fourth with an excellent personal best. Jessica also achieved a national qualifying time in this event. After a two hour rest they then went on to compete in the relay and individual finals. In the 400m freestyle relay the young Thurrock team of four girls faced teams who were much older but swam with determination and gained fifth place. To round off the day Georgia Hunt came fourth in the 15 and under 200m Breaststroke and Jessica came in at fifth in the 16 and over event.
Sunday opened with the challenging 400m Individual Medley. The 15 years and under swimmers swam against some spirited opposition with Shannon being placed fifth. However, when it came to the 16 and over category Jessica, who already has a national time for this event, swam her heart out gaining first place, a gold medal and becoming East Champion. This morning session ended with the 800m freestyle where, in the 15 and under group Georgia managed third with Shannon gaining fourth place and just missing the national qualifying time.
In the 16 and over group Jessica, still buzzing from her earlier success gained a silver medal. In the finals, 2 hours later, the 800m relay team achieved fifth place. However, in the 200m butterfly event for the 15 and under, Megan Langridge astounded all by gaining the national qualifying times for the 14, 15 and 16 year age group as she stormed into silver medal position with Molly Epsly closely following in bronze position.
On the last day, Monday, the Thurrock team again challenged well in the 400m medley relay and came in fifth whilst in the individual events Megan was placed in the 100m butterfly and Jessica was also placed in the 200m individual medley.
The team were Jessica Ford, Emma Backhurst, Shannon Harold, Charlotte Lamb, Megan Langridge, Georgia Hunt, Molly Epsly and Amy Hatfield.