Long course regional Age Group gala proves tough test for borough swimmers (From Thurrock Gazette)

Long course regional Age Group gala proves tough test for borough swimmers

11:50pm Wednesday 8th July 2009

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SWIMMERS between the ages of 10 and 14 travelled to the University of East Anglia to compete in the long course Regional Age Group Swimming Championship. Thurrock Swimming club are affiliated to the Eastern region meaning borough swimmers were competing against the very best swimmers from the counties of Essex, Cambridgeshire, Herfordshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. Team Thurrock once again confirmed their status as one of the premier swimming clubs in the Eastern region, bringing home an impressive medal haul of medals.

Two swimmers competing in their first ever Regional championships made a big impression for Thurrock.

Ten year old Tillie Geggus beat all comers in the 200m butterfly (3:01) and was rewarded with a gold medal and regional title. Tillie followed this up with an equally impressive silver the 400m IM (6:11.2) and also qualified for 2 other finals, finishing 6th in the 100m fly (1:28) and 8th in the 100m back (3:01).

Also celebrating a successful debut at this level was 11 year old Kayleigh Umfreville. Kayleigh certainly raised a few eyebrows in her signature breastroke events, taking silver in both the 100m (1:26.3) and 200m (3:02.3).

The versatile 11 year old was not finished there and went on to reach 3 other regional finals; 100m back (5th), 200m IM (5th) and 200m free (7th).

Thurrock had strong representation in the 11 year age group with trio James Day, George Epsly and Salaam Motin all adding to their medal collection.

All 3 boys made the final of the 200m fly with George taking silver (2:40.6), James bronze (2:44.8) and Salaam finishing in 7th place. George went on to add impressive bronze medals in the 100m fly (1:13.8) and 400m free (4:58.5), with James following closely behind in both events (4th 100m fly–1:14.9, 6th 400m free–5:01).

Not to be outdone, Salaam was celebrating a 5th place finish and national qualifying time in the 200m back (2:40.3) and also made 2 other finals finishing 5th in the 400m IM (5:45.8) and 7th in the 10m back (1:17.6).

Thirteen-year-old Sonny Ford has been in good form all season and this continued in his favoured butterfly events.

The William Edwards student recorded blistering swims in the heats and finals of the 100m and 200m butterfly.

In the 100m Sonny recorded a national qualifying time (1:05.7) to take silver and also snatched silver in a close 200m fly (2:24.1), a swim that earned him his 2nd national qualifying time in 2 days. Thurrock swimmers have a tradition of performing well in the long distance freestyle events and the 2009 championships were no exception.

The 12 year old girls led the way with Melissa Cowell taking silver in the 1500m (19:25), Rebecca Hayes the bronze (19:32) and Georgia Mills 5th place (19:37).

Eleven year old Rachael Moore has swam impressively all season over the long distance events so it was no surprise when she collected double bronze in the 800m (10:46) and 1500m (20:59).

Thirteen year old distance specialist Bradley Clarke also swam well recording a 5th place in the 800m free (9:40) and 6th place in the 1500m free (18:21).

There were mixed fortunes for Ockendon based Gareth Hawkins, as the 13 year old swam a solid 800m to record 4th place (9:40) and not surprisingly placed in the medals in the 100m back (bronze 1:08.7).

Gareth unfortunately sustained a bad injury to his foot on the last day of competition, which meant he could not compete in his favoured 200m backstroke, where he would almost certainly have won a place on the podium.

Two other young debutants recorded top 8 swims; an impressive achievement at regional level.

Ten year old Aaron Bearwish swam to 6th place in the 400m IM (6:39), while fellow 10 year old Hope Jones also swam well in the 400m IM, recording a 5th place finish (6:25).

Hope also went on to finish 7th in the final of the 100m fly (1:32.4).

Thurrock’s busiest swimmer of the weekend was 12 year old Emma Cassidy who made no fewer than 4 finals in addition to securing a bronze medal in the 400m IM (5:36).

Emma went on to finish 4th in the 200m back (2:36.8), 6th in the 100m back (1:14.3) and also secured two 8th places in the 200m IM (2:46.2) and 200m free (2:23.9). The final medal winning swimmer for Thurrock was year 7 William Edwards student Katherine Stephens.

The Grays based 12 year old won bronze in the 200m fly (2:40.9) and also secured 6th place in the 100m fly (1:15.2).

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