Runnymede Swimming Club has finished as 7^th top club in the County following the conclusion of this year ECASA Age Group Championships. Thanks to the outstanding effort and performances from all the swimmers who qualified to compete for the club this year. In some 245 events, the swimmers took an outstanding 66 top 6 places including a total of 26 medals, many whom have now qualified to compete at this year’s East Region Championships which will be held in Norwich during May and June. 6 of the clubs swimmers finished in the top 6 for their respective age groups.

10 year old Ellie Pirrie had yet another excellent weekend swimming and ended the Championships in the runner up position in the Top Girl competition in her age group. Ellie won the Gold Medal in the 200m I/M and 200m fly, Sliver in the 200m back and was 4^th in the 200m F/S.

11 year old Kayleigh Simms swum superbly in the breaststroke events winning the Silver Medal in the 100m. In the boys 11 years age group Barton Townley swam well finishing as 4^th top boy in his age group. Barton took the Gold Medal in the 200m Backstroke achieving his 1^st National Qualifying time in a P.B time of 2.36.00; he was also 4^th in the 200m Fly and 6^th in the 200m I/M.

14 year old Chloe Davis who also had an impressive Championship finished as 6^th Top Girl in her age group. Chloe’s best swim of the last weekend was in the 1500m F/S event where she took a minute of her previous time to take the Bronze medal. She also was 4^th in the 200m Back and 100m Fly and 6^th in the 400m I/M. Patrick Neary also 14 had a fantastic swim in the 100m Breaststroke swimming a p.b. time to take a well deserved Bronze Medal; he then went on to finish 6^th in the 200m Breaststroke.

Henry Newton competing in the 12years Age Group also had an outstanding Championships finishing in 7^th Place overall. Henry had 2 very busy weekends swimming in no fewer than 9 events; he won the Bronze Medals in both the 100m and 200m of his favoured stroke – Butterfly. Also competing in a grand total of 9 events was 12 years Ellie Townley who had an outstanding race in the 400m Freestyle narrowly missing the Gold Medal by 4/100’s of a second. Ellie also took the Bronze Medal in the 200m Freestyle.

Swimming well in the boys `12 years was yet another of Runnymede’s rapidly improving stars, James Winnell who made 3 Finals. James won the Bronze Medal in the 100m Fly, was 4^th in the 200m Fly and 6^th in the 100m Freestyle.

One of the Club’s youngest new talent competing in her first ever County Championships was 9 year old Ellie Mitchell; she finished as 8^th Top Girl in her Age Group taking 5^th Place in the 200m I/M and 6^th in the 200m Freestyle.

Runnymede’s other swimmers who qualified to compete in the last 2 sessions of this years Championships were Charlotte Davis, Murphy Talbot, Natalie Ward, Rory Geoghegan, Mark Greenbaum, Madison Townley, Kelsey Ellerby, Charlotte Hartin, Melissa Knighton, Karis Ellerby, Sarah Ellis and Erin Geoghegan. All of whom achieved personal best times and in many cases only narrowly missing out on an award.

The Club’s New Head Coach Stuart Jago was delighted with his swimmers performances and he and the rest of the Coaching Team are now busy preparing the squad for the Regional and National Championships later in the year.

If anyone is interested in joining Runnymede who are an ASA Swim 21 Accredited Club please contact Club Secretary Heather Davis on 01702 478380 to arrange a free trial.