7 Oct 2007 - New Recruits make waves at Season Opener
Top swimmers from Thurrock kicked off the new swimming season with a splash, when they recently competed in the Crawley Early Bird Long Course meet.
Held over 2 long days in the impressive surroundings of the K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley, the meet attracted some of the top swimmers and clubs from the south east regions of the UK.
Thurrock welcomed the addition of four experienced squad swimmers during the close season and this was their first opportunity to shine in the purple of hat of TSC. Brothers Jason and Ryan Daniels did just that with 13 year old Ryan picking up an impressive bronze medal in the 12/13 year 200m butterfly (2:33.63) and older brother Jason claiming 4th place in the boys 14/15 year 200m backstroke (2:27.08).
Other new recruits; Charlotte and Alex Delicata also made a splash, bagging many impressive top 6 finishes. Swimming in the 12/13 year category, Alex claimed two 3rd places in the 100 free (1:02.94) and 400m IM (5:19.23), two 5th places in the 200m fly and 400m free and 6th in the 200m IM. Sister Charlotte completed the newcomer's success by swimming to 4th and 5th places in the 14/15 years 400m IM (5:26.66) and 200m back (2:35.84).
Thurrock's younger swimmers swam only a few events, as they were also representing the club at the junior speedo league southern regional final on the same weekend. These youngsters once again, did not disappoint and many claimed impressive top 6 places. Eleven year old Amy Gore from Chafford Hundred had reason to celebrate when she swam an impressive national qualifying time in the 200m breast and not surprisingly took the gold medal in the process (3:04.73). Amy was also successful in the 100m breast, claiming silver in 1:28.42.
Also competing in the 10/11 category were Katherine Stephens, Rebecca Hayes and Amy Beardwell-Lacy. All three girls were evenly matched in the 400m freestyle with Katherine claiming 2nd place (5:12.14), Rebecca 3rd (5:14.21) and Amy 5th (5:17.47). Katherine and Amy were also closely matched in the 200m IM, with Katherine just edging out Amy on the touch, to take silver in 2:49.55. Not to be outdone, Amy fought back to take a silver of her own in the 100m fly (1:18.48). South Stifford based Rebecca Hayes then followed up with 4th places in the 400m IM (6:13.93) and 200m back (2:54.92).
For the junior boys, the experienced 11 year old trio of, Bradley Clarke, Gareth Hawkins and Sonny Ford continue to make waves of their own. Bradley swam to a hat-trick of bronze medals in the 400m IM (5:45.03), 200m free (2:25.54) and 200m back (2:43.66). Gareth from South Ockendon took a fine silver in the 100m back (1:18.12) and followed up with 5th place in the 200m back (2:44.20). Sonny completed the medal success claiming bronze in the 200m fly (2:53.79). Joe Brown completed a fine day of swimming for the 11 year boys claiming 5th spot in the 200m fly (3:01.47) and 6th in the 400m IM (6:19.13).
Despite being the season opener, Thurrock's most experienced batch of swimmers were also in fine form. National Championship veteran Charlie Hayes had a fine weekend and really made his mark in the 12/13 category. The Grays school student took gold in the 200m breast (2:54.03) and followed up with silvers in the 200m fly (2:30.22) and 400m IM (5:13.51). Charlie also bagged a bronze in the 200m IM (2:33.14).
Also claiming a fine set of medals in the 12/13 category were twin sisters Abigail and Danielle Sayer. William Edwards student Abigail demonstrated exceptional versatility by claiming a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place finish in six different events. The medal winning performances came in the 200m fly (gold; 2:30.97), 400m IM (silver; 5:26.76) and 200m back (bronze 2:36.22). Twin Sister Danni completed a fine weekend for the Sayers, when she claimed a bronze in the 400m free (4:51.52) and 6th place in the 200m back and a 6th place in the women's 1500m free.
In the 14/15 year age category, Megan Langridge from Grays continues to demonstrate perfect technique in her favoured 200m butterfly event. Megan once again swam to victory in 2:30.08. The Grays school student then followed up with a silver in the 400m IM (5:25.96) and 4th place in the 200m back (2:34.81).
Gable Hall student and national championship veteran Molly Epsly also had a successful weekend winning medals in all of the middle and long distance freestyle events. Molly took bronze in the 400m (4:40.95), silver in the women's 800m (9:36.75) and bronze in the women's 1500m (18:18.22). Molly completed a fine weekend with a bronze in the 200m fly (2:32.79)
Thurrock's most senior swimmers and national standard duo of Jessica Ford and Shannon Harrold also had reason to celebrate. Seventeen year old Jessica swam to two fine victories in the women's 800m freestyle (9:32.90) and 200m IM (2:33.55), a silver in the 200m free (2:15.51) and a bronze in the 400m free (4:41.42). Jess was joined by team mate Shannon Harrold who collected 4th spot in the 400m free (4:53.67).
All swimmers who represented Thurrock enjoyed a good weekend of early season swimming; with the following swimmers finishing just outside the top 6 places; Melissa Cowell, Georgia Mills, Alex Mangan, Thomas Mangan, Emily Neal, Amy Hatfield, Francesca Day, Kerriann Chipperfield, Charlotte Lamb, Whitney Hard, Conor Harrold, James Mitchell, Tom Ford.
Written By: Darren Ford
Held over 2 long days in the impressive surroundings of the K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley, the meet attracted some of the top swimmers and clubs from the south east regions of the UK.
Thurrock welcomed the addition of four experienced squad swimmers during the close season and this was their first opportunity to shine in the purple of hat of TSC. Brothers Jason and Ryan Daniels did just that with 13 year old Ryan picking up an impressive bronze medal in the 12/13 year 200m butterfly (2:33.63) and older brother Jason claiming 4th place in the boys 14/15 year 200m backstroke (2:27.08).
Other new recruits; Charlotte and Alex Delicata also made a splash, bagging many impressive top 6 finishes. Swimming in the 12/13 year category, Alex claimed two 3rd places in the 100 free (1:02.94) and 400m IM (5:19.23), two 5th places in the 200m fly and 400m free and 6th in the 200m IM. Sister Charlotte completed the newcomer's success by swimming to 4th and 5th places in the 14/15 years 400m IM (5:26.66) and 200m back (2:35.84).
Thurrock's younger swimmers swam only a few events, as they were also representing the club at the junior speedo league southern regional final on the same weekend. These youngsters once again, did not disappoint and many claimed impressive top 6 places. Eleven year old Amy Gore from Chafford Hundred had reason to celebrate when she swam an impressive national qualifying time in the 200m breast and not surprisingly took the gold medal in the process (3:04.73). Amy was also successful in the 100m breast, claiming silver in 1:28.42.
Also competing in the 10/11 category were Katherine Stephens, Rebecca Hayes and Amy Beardwell-Lacy. All three girls were evenly matched in the 400m freestyle with Katherine claiming 2nd place (5:12.14), Rebecca 3rd (5:14.21) and Amy 5th (5:17.47). Katherine and Amy were also closely matched in the 200m IM, with Katherine just edging out Amy on the touch, to take silver in 2:49.55. Not to be outdone, Amy fought back to take a silver of her own in the 100m fly (1:18.48). South Stifford based Rebecca Hayes then followed up with 4th places in the 400m IM (6:13.93) and 200m back (2:54.92).
For the junior boys, the experienced 11 year old trio of, Bradley Clarke, Gareth Hawkins and Sonny Ford continue to make waves of their own. Bradley swam to a hat-trick of bronze medals in the 400m IM (5:45.03), 200m free (2:25.54) and 200m back (2:43.66). Gareth from South Ockendon took a fine silver in the 100m back (1:18.12) and followed up with 5th place in the 200m back (2:44.20). Sonny completed the medal success claiming bronze in the 200m fly (2:53.79). Joe Brown completed a fine day of swimming for the 11 year boys claiming 5th spot in the 200m fly (3:01.47) and 6th in the 400m IM (6:19.13).
Despite being the season opener, Thurrock's most experienced batch of swimmers were also in fine form. National Championship veteran Charlie Hayes had a fine weekend and really made his mark in the 12/13 category. The Grays school student took gold in the 200m breast (2:54.03) and followed up with silvers in the 200m fly (2:30.22) and 400m IM (5:13.51). Charlie also bagged a bronze in the 200m IM (2:33.14).
Also claiming a fine set of medals in the 12/13 category were twin sisters Abigail and Danielle Sayer. William Edwards student Abigail demonstrated exceptional versatility by claiming a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place finish in six different events. The medal winning performances came in the 200m fly (gold; 2:30.97), 400m IM (silver; 5:26.76) and 200m back (bronze 2:36.22). Twin Sister Danni completed a fine weekend for the Sayers, when she claimed a bronze in the 400m free (4:51.52) and 6th place in the 200m back and a 6th place in the women's 1500m free.
In the 14/15 year age category, Megan Langridge from Grays continues to demonstrate perfect technique in her favoured 200m butterfly event. Megan once again swam to victory in 2:30.08. The Grays school student then followed up with a silver in the 400m IM (5:25.96) and 4th place in the 200m back (2:34.81).
Gable Hall student and national championship veteran Molly Epsly also had a successful weekend winning medals in all of the middle and long distance freestyle events. Molly took bronze in the 400m (4:40.95), silver in the women's 800m (9:36.75) and bronze in the women's 1500m (18:18.22). Molly completed a fine weekend with a bronze in the 200m fly (2:32.79)
Thurrock's most senior swimmers and national standard duo of Jessica Ford and Shannon Harrold also had reason to celebrate. Seventeen year old Jessica swam to two fine victories in the women's 800m freestyle (9:32.90) and 200m IM (2:33.55), a silver in the 200m free (2:15.51) and a bronze in the 400m free (4:41.42). Jess was joined by team mate Shannon Harrold who collected 4th spot in the 400m free (4:53.67).
All swimmers who represented Thurrock enjoyed a good weekend of early season swimming; with the following swimmers finishing just outside the top 6 places; Melissa Cowell, Georgia Mills, Alex Mangan, Thomas Mangan, Emily Neal, Amy Hatfield, Francesca Day, Kerriann Chipperfield, Charlotte Lamb, Whitney Hard, Conor Harrold, James Mitchell, Tom Ford.
Written By: Darren Ford