Runnymede Swimming Club had a fantastic weekend of swimming in Belgium last week finishing the 3^rd Top Club out of 12 International clubs competing at the “19^th International Bokkerijderswedstrijd 2005” hosted by OZV Swimming Club in Overpelt, near Antwerp.

This International Swimming Tournament took place for the first time in 10 years and Runnymede were invited because of the Clubs tradition of attending the event prior to its interruption. Runnymede had no hesitation in accepting the invitation and a total of 54 members went for the weekend, including a total of 26 swimmers along with their parents. It provided the Club with its first opportunity for a number of years to take part in an International event of this kind and to compete against some of Europe’s top swimmers.

In what proved to be an extremely exciting and successful trip held over 2 days the youngsters of RSC finished the 3^rd top club, winning 200 Euros in prize money, and were just behind 2^nd place OZV (host club) and in 1^st place SG Hellas/Glana from the Netherlands. The team had some fantastic individual performances in their respective age groups with all swimmers producing excellent personal best times and an incredible medal tally of 59 between them, including 21 Gold, 23 Silver and 15 Bronze. The Relay teams added to the medal haul with 7 out of 8 teams winning Gold and 1 team winning silver.

Chloe Davis and Charlotte Delicata had superb individual performances throughout the weekend with an impressive tally of 4 Gold Medals each, Chloe won Gold in the 1994 age group for 200m and 100m Fly, 200m I/M and 200m Freestyle events and also won silver medals in the 100m I/M and 100m Freestyle producing personal best times in all of her swims. Charlotte took the Gold Medals in the 1991 Age group for 200m Back, 200m Free 100m Back and 200m I/M and bronze in the 100m Freestyle.

Jason Daniels won a total of 3 Gold’s (200m Freestyle, 100m Fly and 100m Back) together with 3 Silver medals (200m Back, 100m I/M and 200m I/M) in his respective age group and Alex Delicata achieved 2 Gold medals in the 100m and 200m Backstroke events for the 1994s

Charlotte Davis added to the Gold medal Tally with 2 outstanding swims in the 100m and 200m Fly events for the 1992s, winning the 200m in a new personal best time and by 20 seconds to her closest rival, she also took silver in the 200m and 100m Freestyle events. Charlotte Lamb also had a successful weekend taking the Gold medals in the 100m and 200m Freestyle and a grand total of 4 Silver medals in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke and the 100m and 200m I/M events.

Sarah Wright and Aaron Eveleigh took a Gold medal each in the 100m freestyle and the 100m backstroke respectively; Sarah also won 2 bronze medals in the 200m Freestyle and 100m I/M and Aaron 3 silver (200m Fly, 200m Freestyle and 100m Fly) and 2 Bronze medals (100m I/M and 100m Backstroke).

Not to be outdone were some of Runnymede’s youngest swimmers competing in their first ever Open Meet.  Emily Muggleton won 2 Gold medals (100m Freestyle and 100m I/M, Ellie-Jade Smith a silver in the 100m Backstroke and Matthew Davis who won bronze Medals in all 4 events which he took part in. Henry Newton collected the silver medals for his age group in the 100m I/M and 100m Backstroke events and Alice Robinson had an excellent weekend winning the bronze medals in the 200m backstroke and 100m freestyle.

Other Medal winners were Samantha Knight silver (200m Breast) and bronze (100m Fly); Patrick Neary Silver (200m I/M) and Bronze (100m Breast); Elliott Eveleigh Silver (100m Fly); Sarah Jarratt Silver (100m I/M, Backstroke and freestyle); Howard Clarke Bronze (100m I/M) and William Muggleton Bronze (100m I/M).

The rest of Runnymede’s team comprised of Blue Newton, James Craigie, Thomas and Ellie Honeysett, Dawn and Keith Muggleton, and Yvette and Elysia James.

Coach Paul Eveleigh was absolutely delighted with the teams performances and said

“ The purpose of the trip was primarily to enjoy the experience and form friendships with swimmers from other countries. This they did, and in the process actually swam very well in the competition, even though it is early season. Swimming in an International competition seemed to inspire the team to greater heights. We all look forward to returning to this gala every year and hosting OZV in England.”

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