23 Jul 2007 - National Championships 2007
One of Thurrock swimming clubs most successful seasons of recent times, recently came to end when a contingent of Thurrock swimmers competed in the final event of the swimming season - the ASA national swimming championships.
The nationals is undoubtedly the most prestigious age group and youth swimming event of the year and the tough qualifying standards ensure that only the best of the best across the UK qualify to compete. This year 10 swimmers from Thurrock swimming club qualified for the competition, which outlines the quality of swimmers being produced from the borough's only swimming club.
Thurrock had two representatives in the youngest 11 year age group; new Grays convent student Amy Beardwell-Lacey and Bradley Clarke who attends Hassenbrook school. Both swimmers have had an exceptional season which reflected in their performances. Amy qualified for the final of the 400m Individual Medley and 100m butterfly, thus placing her amongst the top 10 eleven year old female swimmers in the country, in these 2 events. Amy also competed in the 200m butterfly and produced a personal best long course performance, just missing out on a place in the final.
Bradley Clarke qualified for a remarkable 7 events in total and confirmed his status as an exceptional all-round swimmer. Bradley put in solid performances in all his events but really shone in the 400m freestyle. An outstanding swim saw him qualify for the final, thus also placing him amongst the top 10 eleven year old swimmers in the country, in this event.
Thurrock had three representatives in the thirteen year group. William Edwards student Abigail Sayer, Canvey based Kerriann Chipperfield and Charlie Hayes who attends the Grays School Media Arts College. All three have experienced the heights of competing in the nationals in previous years and their experience shone through. Competing in the 200m butterfly, both Abigail and Charlie narrowly missed out on a top 10 place making reserve finalists. Charlie also put in an outstanding swim in the 400m Individual Medley, while Essex Champion Kerriann Chipperfield also rounded off a fine season with a good swim in the 200m butterfly.
A trio of Thurrock's most established and successful swimmers made up the 14 year old contingent. Grays school student Megan Langridge, a regular national qualifier since the age of 11, swam magnificently and was officially placed as the 5th fastest 14 year old 200m butterfly swimmer in the UK. Freestyle specialist Molly Epsly, a student at Gable Hall school in Corringham, also impressed in the 400m, 800m and the gruelling 1500m freestyle events. Team mate and multiple Essex Champion, Georgie Hunt also made a big splash. Qualifying for an impressive 4 events in total, Georgie put in fine performances in the 400m Individual Medley, 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle events. As a direct result of their outstanding performances, both Molly and Georgie have been selected for the England Talent Development Programme.
Two of Thurrock's most senior swimmers were also competing at the nationals for the 1st time. Rubbing shoulders with some of the female swimmers that will represent Great Britain in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 were 16 year old Jessica Ford from Grays and 15 year old Shannon Harrold from Corringham. East Region champion Jessica put in solid performances in arguably two of the most difficult events; the 400m Individual medley and 1500m freestyle, while Shannon swam an impressive 1500m freestyle.
Thurrock Chief Coach Alex Morgan was delighted with the standard of performances over the 2 full weeks of competition. Speaking afterwards, Alex said "I'm delighted at the good solid performances from most of the Thurrock National Team in particular the exceptional swims that were rewarded with a place in the relevant National Final".
Thurrock now look forward to repeating the success of this year, during the course of the 2007/2008 swimming season.
The nationals is undoubtedly the most prestigious age group and youth swimming event of the year and the tough qualifying standards ensure that only the best of the best across the UK qualify to compete. This year 10 swimmers from Thurrock swimming club qualified for the competition, which outlines the quality of swimmers being produced from the borough's only swimming club.
Thurrock had two representatives in the youngest 11 year age group; new Grays convent student Amy Beardwell-Lacey and Bradley Clarke who attends Hassenbrook school. Both swimmers have had an exceptional season which reflected in their performances. Amy qualified for the final of the 400m Individual Medley and 100m butterfly, thus placing her amongst the top 10 eleven year old female swimmers in the country, in these 2 events. Amy also competed in the 200m butterfly and produced a personal best long course performance, just missing out on a place in the final.
Bradley Clarke qualified for a remarkable 7 events in total and confirmed his status as an exceptional all-round swimmer. Bradley put in solid performances in all his events but really shone in the 400m freestyle. An outstanding swim saw him qualify for the final, thus also placing him amongst the top 10 eleven year old swimmers in the country, in this event.
Thurrock had three representatives in the thirteen year group. William Edwards student Abigail Sayer, Canvey based Kerriann Chipperfield and Charlie Hayes who attends the Grays School Media Arts College. All three have experienced the heights of competing in the nationals in previous years and their experience shone through. Competing in the 200m butterfly, both Abigail and Charlie narrowly missed out on a top 10 place making reserve finalists. Charlie also put in an outstanding swim in the 400m Individual Medley, while Essex Champion Kerriann Chipperfield also rounded off a fine season with a good swim in the 200m butterfly.
A trio of Thurrock's most established and successful swimmers made up the 14 year old contingent. Grays school student Megan Langridge, a regular national qualifier since the age of 11, swam magnificently and was officially placed as the 5th fastest 14 year old 200m butterfly swimmer in the UK. Freestyle specialist Molly Epsly, a student at Gable Hall school in Corringham, also impressed in the 400m, 800m and the gruelling 1500m freestyle events. Team mate and multiple Essex Champion, Georgie Hunt also made a big splash. Qualifying for an impressive 4 events in total, Georgie put in fine performances in the 400m Individual Medley, 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle events. As a direct result of their outstanding performances, both Molly and Georgie have been selected for the England Talent Development Programme.
Two of Thurrock's most senior swimmers were also competing at the nationals for the 1st time. Rubbing shoulders with some of the female swimmers that will represent Great Britain in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 were 16 year old Jessica Ford from Grays and 15 year old Shannon Harrold from Corringham. East Region champion Jessica put in solid performances in arguably two of the most difficult events; the 400m Individual medley and 1500m freestyle, while Shannon swam an impressive 1500m freestyle.
Thurrock Chief Coach Alex Morgan was delighted with the standard of performances over the 2 full weeks of competition. Speaking afterwards, Alex said "I'm delighted at the good solid performances from most of the Thurrock National Team in particular the exceptional swims that were rewarded with a place in the relevant National Final".
Thurrock now look forward to repeating the success of this year, during the course of the 2007/2008 swimming season.