************ ESSEX COUNTY CHAMPIONS 2008 ************

28 Jan 2008 - 8 New County Sprint Champions Crowned

8 New County Sprint Champions Crowned

Blackshots Leisure Centre was packed to the rafters for the opening round of the 2008 Essex County Age Group Swimming Championships. All events in the opening round are 50m sprint events for swimmers aged 9 through to 16 and over. Defending champions Thurrock finished the weekend in pole position, leading 2^nd place Romford Town by 35 points.

Thurrock swimmers managed an incredible 52 appearances that qualified for the sprint finals and the following 8 swimmers were crowned 2008 Essex County Sprint Champions: -

Keiran Gore 9 years 50m breast 43.96

9 years 50m free 34.50

George Epsly 9 years 50m fly 38.69

9 years 50m back 39.04

Salaam Motin 10 years 50m breast 44.26

Emma Cassidy 10 years 50m free 32.43

Amy Gore 11 years 50m free 31.19

11 years 50m breast 38.24

Katherine Stephens 11 years 50m fly 33.79

Ryan Daniels 13 years 50m fly 30.29

Georgina Hunt 15 years 50m fly 31.09

All Thurrock swimmers swam magnificently in the intense atmosphere with many personal best times being smashed. Thurrock's pedigree for producing quality swimmers continues to grow, evidenced by the following medal winning performances in the sprint finals: -

9 years

Tillie Geggus 6^th 50m back (43.76)

George Epsly, 2^nd 50m free (34.53)

Keiran Gore, 4^th 50m back (39.89)

Keiran Gore, 5^th 50m fly (40.38)

10 years

Emma Cassidy, 3rd 50m breast (44.41)

Emma Cassidy, 3rd 50m fly (36.56)

Emma Cassidy, 2nd 50m back (36.18)

Rose Merritt, 5th 50m free (34.02)

Rachael Moore, 5th 50m back (38.21)

James Day, 3rd 50m free (32.98)

James Day, 6th 50m fly (37.97)

Bobbie McCarthy, 3rd 50m fly (36.81)

Bobbie McCarthy, 5th 50m breast (46.24)

Salaam Motin, 5th 50m back (39.41)

11 years

Amy Gore, 2nd 50m fly (34.30)

Amy Gore, 2nd 50m back (35.62)

Katherine Stephens, 4th 50m back (36.41)

Katherine Stephens, 2nd 50m free (31.53)

Georgia Mills, 6th 50m free (32.29)

Joe Brown, 4th 50m fly (35.56)

12 years

Gareth Hawkins, 2nd 50m back (34.30)

Sonny Ford, 4th 50m fly (33.90)

Bradley Clarke, 4th 50m breast (40.23)

13 years

Emily Neal, 4th 50m back (34.57)

Emily Neal, 5th 50m free (30.79)

14 years

Kerriann Chipperfield, 3rd 50m free (29.50)

Megan Langridge, 3rd 50m fly (32.64)

Megan Langridge, 4th 50m back (34.00)

Abigail Sayer, 4th 50m fly (33.12)

Danielle Sayer, 5th 50m fly (33.14)

Alex Delicata, 2nd 50m back (31.43)

Alex Delicata, 4th 50m fly (30.37)

Alex Delicata, 6th 50m free (27.60)

15 years

Georgina Hunt, 3rd 50m back (33.39)

Georgina Hunt, 3rd 50m breast (37.05)

Georgina Hunt, 4th 50m free (29.42)

Amy Hatfield, 5th 50m back (34.88)

Molly Epsly, 6th 50m fly (33.15)

Jason Daniels, 4th 50m fly (28.58)

Jason Daniels, 5th 50m back (30.99)