7 Oct 2007 - THURROCK YOUNGSTERS MAKE NATIONAL FINAL
Junior swimmers from Thurrock recently secured a place in the clubs history books by becoming the first ever Thurrock team to qualify for the national final of the junior speedo league.
The road to the national final has been a long one and started back in February for the talented group of 9 to 12 year old squad swimmers. After comprehensively winning division one of the M11 league, Thurrock earned the right to compete against other league winners from the southern regions of the UK.
In the electrifying and deafening atmosphere of crown pools, Ipswich, the southern regional final was a tense and closely fought affair. The team from Thurrock knew the quality of competition would be high as they were up against clubs that serve main stream UK cities, including Norwich, Derby, Northampton and Bournemouth. Thurrock juniors were not fazed but inspired by this and went on to record an incredible xx top 3 finishes which ultimately secured them a place in the national final.
The contingent of swimmers representing Thurrock in the 9 year boys category dominated the early rounds of the competition and their good form continued despite the step up in class. Bobbie McCarthy won the 25m butterfly (17.26) and claimed 3rd spot in the 25m freestyle (16.53), while George Epsly won the 25m back (19.10). Kieran Gore also stepped up a gear to take 2nd place in the 25m breastroke (21.47). The boys were then joined by Jake Mills and stormed to victory in both the freestyle and medley relays.
Thurrock also tasted success in the 10 year age category. Salaam Motin claimed victory and a new personal best in the 50m breastroke (45.11) while fellow 10 year old James Day was just only just beaten in the 50m butterfly (40.57). The 2 boys then joined forces with Bobbie McCarthy and George Epsly and claimed victory in the freestyle relay.
The girls 10 year team were not to be outdone and also produced some quality swimming. Rose Merritt swam a new personal best and took 3rd place in the 50m butterfly (39.36) and there was also a personal best swim and a 3rd place for Rachael Moore in the 50m breastroke (46.51). The 2 girls were then joined by Emma Cassidy and Lily Mann and claimed 2nd place in the medley relay and 3rd place in the freestyle relay.
Thurrock's trio of 11 year old boys also rose to the occasion. Bradley Clarke, Gareth Hawkins and Sonny Ford were all just pipped at the post in their individual 50m races. Bradley claimed 2nd place in the freestyle (32.40) and breastroke (42.44), Gareth took 2nd place and claimed a new personal best in the backstroke (34.82) and Sonny completed the trio of 2nd places in the 50m butterfly (35.93). The trio then combined with Joe Brown and Thomas Head to take 2nd and 3rd places in the medley and freestyle relays.
Regular winners in the early rounds of this sprint competition were the 11 year old girls team and their winning habit continued in the southern regional final. Katherine Stephens was victorious in the 50m butterfly (35.35) and also claimed 3rd spot in the 50m freestyle (31.96), while Amy Gore swam a new personal best to claim victory in the 50m breastroke (39.81). The girls were joined by Georgia Mills and Melissa Cowell for the relay events where they swam to 2nd place in the freestyle relay and 3rd place in the medley relay.
Thurrock's success in the southern regional final puts them in amongst the best 9 to 12 year old sprint swimmers in the UK and they now look forward to competing in the national final in Wolverhampton later this year. The squad consists of the following swimmers; Amy Gore, Georgia Mills, Melissa Cowell, Amy Beardwell Lacey, Katherine Stephens, Charlie Hard, Gareth Hawkins, Sonny Ford, Thomas Head, Bradley Clarke, Joe Brown, Thomas Head, Eloise Lyons, Hope Jones, Lucy Sapsford, Tillie Geggus, Bobbie McCarthy Kieran Gore, Jake Mills, George Epsly, Emma Cassidy, Rachael Moore, Rose Merritt, Lily Mann, Salaam Motin, James Day,
Warburtons, Britain's favourite family baker, the official sponsor of Thurrock Swimming Club for the 2007/2008 season, kindly funded the cost of the coach to take the Thurrock Swimming Club Junior Speedo Team to Ipswich for this momentous gala. All the swimmers would like to say thank you to Warburtons for this.
The road to the national final has been a long one and started back in February for the talented group of 9 to 12 year old squad swimmers. After comprehensively winning division one of the M11 league, Thurrock earned the right to compete against other league winners from the southern regions of the UK.
In the electrifying and deafening atmosphere of crown pools, Ipswich, the southern regional final was a tense and closely fought affair. The team from Thurrock knew the quality of competition would be high as they were up against clubs that serve main stream UK cities, including Norwich, Derby, Northampton and Bournemouth. Thurrock juniors were not fazed but inspired by this and went on to record an incredible xx top 3 finishes which ultimately secured them a place in the national final.
The contingent of swimmers representing Thurrock in the 9 year boys category dominated the early rounds of the competition and their good form continued despite the step up in class. Bobbie McCarthy won the 25m butterfly (17.26) and claimed 3rd spot in the 25m freestyle (16.53), while George Epsly won the 25m back (19.10). Kieran Gore also stepped up a gear to take 2nd place in the 25m breastroke (21.47). The boys were then joined by Jake Mills and stormed to victory in both the freestyle and medley relays.
Thurrock also tasted success in the 10 year age category. Salaam Motin claimed victory and a new personal best in the 50m breastroke (45.11) while fellow 10 year old James Day was just only just beaten in the 50m butterfly (40.57). The 2 boys then joined forces with Bobbie McCarthy and George Epsly and claimed victory in the freestyle relay.
The girls 10 year team were not to be outdone and also produced some quality swimming. Rose Merritt swam a new personal best and took 3rd place in the 50m butterfly (39.36) and there was also a personal best swim and a 3rd place for Rachael Moore in the 50m breastroke (46.51). The 2 girls were then joined by Emma Cassidy and Lily Mann and claimed 2nd place in the medley relay and 3rd place in the freestyle relay.
Thurrock's trio of 11 year old boys also rose to the occasion. Bradley Clarke, Gareth Hawkins and Sonny Ford were all just pipped at the post in their individual 50m races. Bradley claimed 2nd place in the freestyle (32.40) and breastroke (42.44), Gareth took 2nd place and claimed a new personal best in the backstroke (34.82) and Sonny completed the trio of 2nd places in the 50m butterfly (35.93). The trio then combined with Joe Brown and Thomas Head to take 2nd and 3rd places in the medley and freestyle relays.
Regular winners in the early rounds of this sprint competition were the 11 year old girls team and their winning habit continued in the southern regional final. Katherine Stephens was victorious in the 50m butterfly (35.35) and also claimed 3rd spot in the 50m freestyle (31.96), while Amy Gore swam a new personal best to claim victory in the 50m breastroke (39.81). The girls were joined by Georgia Mills and Melissa Cowell for the relay events where they swam to 2nd place in the freestyle relay and 3rd place in the medley relay.
Thurrock's success in the southern regional final puts them in amongst the best 9 to 12 year old sprint swimmers in the UK and they now look forward to competing in the national final in Wolverhampton later this year. The squad consists of the following swimmers; Amy Gore, Georgia Mills, Melissa Cowell, Amy Beardwell Lacey, Katherine Stephens, Charlie Hard, Gareth Hawkins, Sonny Ford, Thomas Head, Bradley Clarke, Joe Brown, Thomas Head, Eloise Lyons, Hope Jones, Lucy Sapsford, Tillie Geggus, Bobbie McCarthy Kieran Gore, Jake Mills, George Epsly, Emma Cassidy, Rachael Moore, Rose Merritt, Lily Mann, Salaam Motin, James Day,
Warburtons, Britain's favourite family baker, the official sponsor of Thurrock Swimming Club for the 2007/2008 season, kindly funded the cost of the coach to take the Thurrock Swimming Club Junior Speedo Team to Ipswich for this momentous gala. All the swimmers would like to say thank you to Warburtons for this.