7 Jan 2008 - New Year starts with Century Medal Haul

New Year starts with Century Medal Haul 

 

 

Thurrock swimmers travelled south on the first weekend of the new year to compete against Kent ’s top swimmers at the Canterbury Icebreaker open meet. The reigning Essex age group champions were on top form and managed an incredible haul of over 80 top three places and whole host of other top 6 swims. Team Thurrock had 5 swimmers that led the way and put in some amazing eye catching performances.

 

Eleven year olds Bradley Clarke and Amy Gore brought home 12 gold medals between them. National standard swimmer Bradley showed incredible versatility in winning all of his 8 events across the full range of strokes.

Amy continues to make waves of her own and showed remarkable strength to win 4 events and claim three 2008 national qualifying times (100m and 200m breast, 400m IM).

 

Dominant swimmers in the 12/13 year age category were Danielle Sayer and Charlie Hayes. Both swimmers entertained the large contingent of Thurrock supporters with their swims in the IM skins final. This event pitches the fastest 6 medley swimmers against each other in a series of 50m sprint races held 1 minute apart. In the girl’s event, Danielle brushed aside the competition to take gold, while Charlie was just beaten into top spot, but took a credible silver.

 

This rounded off a successful weekend for the duo as they both went on to claim 4 gold medals in a range of different events. 

 

Seventeen year old Jessica Ford remains in top form and continues to be a shining example to Thurrock ’s younger squad swimmers. Jess won a total of 5 events in the girls 16 years and over category (200m, 400m free, 200m breast and 100m and 200m IM).

 

It was not just these five swimmers that put in notable medal winning performances. In the youngest 9 year age category, the male quartet of Keiran Gore, Jake Mills, George Epsly and William Manning also had plenty of success. Keiran brought home a full set of medals winning gold in the 200m breast ( 3:25 ), silver in the 200m free ( 2:46 ) and bronze in the 200m back ( 3:02 ). Jake was also impressive taking a hat-trick of silvers in the 200m fly ( 3:20 ), 200m back ( 3:02 ) and 200m IM ( 3:09 ) and a bronze in the 200m free ( 2:48 ). William Manning added two 4^th places in the 200m free and 200m back, while George Epsly proved his top 9 year old boy performance at the Guildford Open in December was no fluke, when he romped home to take gold in the 200m fly (3:09).

 

Thurrock’s sole medal winner in the girls 9 year category was Molly Merritt, who claimed a silver in the 50m free (36.45) and 2 bronze medals in the 200m free (2:57) and 200m back (3:09).

 

Amy Gore and Bradley Clarke were also not the only successful swimmers in the 10/11 category. Current Essex champion Katherine Stephens took gold in the 400m free ( 5:04 ), three silvers in the 100m fly ( 1:14 ), 200m back ( 2:46 ) and 200m IM ( 2:44 ). Kat finished off with a bronze in the 400m IM ( 5:42 ). The girls 10/11 contingent at Thurrock is as good as any in the region and this was proven when Melissa Cowell, Georgia Mills, Rebecca Hayes, Emma Cassidy and Rachael Moore also swam to top 6 finishes. Melissa took silver in the 400m free (5:11) and 4^th and 5^th spots in the 200m back and 200m fly, while Georgia took 5^th places in the 400m free and 200m IM. Essex   County age group record holder Rebecca Hayes took bronze in the 400m free ( 5:11 ), while Emma Cassidy also took bronze in the 200m back ( 2:51 ) and 4^th spot in the 100m back. Rachael Moore completed the success story by taking 6th place in the 200m back.

 

Team Thurrock has well renowed strength in depth in the 10/11 age group which also extends to the boys. Sonny Ford brought home a full set of medals winning gold in the 100m fly ( 1:15 ), silver in the 200m fly ( 2:44 ) and bronze in the 400m free ( 5:12 ). Sonny also added 4^th spot in the 200m IM. Not to be outdone, Gareth Hawkins emulated this peformance romping home to take gold in the 100m back ( 1:13 ), silver in the 200m back ( 2:35 ) and bronze in the 200m free ( 2:23 ). Gareth added a further silver in the 50m free (31.25) and bronze in the 100m free ( 1:07 ).

 

Fellow 11 year old Joe Brown took silver and bronze in the 100m (1:16) and 200m fly (2:52) while 10 year old Salaam Motin claimed two bronze medals in the 200m breast (3:21) and 400m IM (6:04) and a 5^th place in the 200m back. Other medals in this age category were won by Bobbie McCarthy (bronze 100m fly, 5^th 200m back), Thomas Head (4^th 200m back, 5^th 100m back), Harry Geggus (6^th places in the 100m back, 200m back and 200m IM) and 10 year old James Day who took 6^th place in the 100m fly.

 

In the 12/13 year age category, 2007 national finalist Amy Beardwell Lacey claimed 2 silver medals in her favoured butterfly events; 100m (1:15) and 200m (2:45), while butterfly specialist Ryan Daniels also took medals in the boys category. Ryan swam to silver in the 100m event ( 1:08 ) and bronze in the 200m event ( 2:33 ). 

 

Thurrock swimmers also tasted success in the senior age groups. For the girls Georgina Hunt, Megan Langridge, Charlotte Lamb, Kerriann Chipperfield, Molly Epsly, Charlotte Delicata and Shannon Harold all have a wealth of experience and this clearly shone through. Georgina and Molly both claimed golds in the 14/15 year age group, Georgina winning the 400m IM (5:15) and Molly the 200m fly (2:27). Charlotte Delicata added to the gold rush claiming two of her own in the 16 years and over 100m and 200m back ( 1:11 , 2:28 ). Charlotte went on to add silvers in the 200m breast ( 2:54 ) and 400m IM ( 5:16 ) as did Shannon in the 200m free ( 2:15 ). Shannon added a further bronze in the 400m free ( 4:40 ) as did Megan in the 200m fly ( 2:28 ) and Georgina in the 200m breast ( 2:51 ).

 

Charlotte Lamb also tasted success in the 200m breast claiming 4^th spot (2:53) and Kerriann Chipperfield claimed 5^th place in the 100m fly and 6^th places in the 200m fly and 400m free.

 

For the senior boys, Jason Daniels and James Mitchell both had the midas touch, James romped home to take gold in the strength sapping 1500m free ( 17:43 ) and Jason won the 14/15 years 100m fly ( 1:05 ). Jason went on to add bronze in the 100m back (1:06) while team mate Conor Harold took the silver in the 200m fly (2:28) to add to 4^th place in the 400m IM. Thurrock ’s incredible medal haul was completed by Thomas Ford who added a 4^th place of his own in the 14/15 years 200m fly and 5^th places in the 200m and 400m free.