Canterbury ‘Icebreaker’ swimming gala

The Runnymede Swimming Club team have got 2009 off to a flying start with an impressive display of achievements at their first big meet of the year held at Canterbury. The ‘Ice Breaker’ event was a Level 1 meet and the standard of swimming exceptionally high however, many of the swimmers walked away with 1^st places plus achieving County and Regional level times as well.

Ellie Pirrie achieved a staggering nine 1^st places and a 2^{nd across} a number of events. The highest number of 1^st places achieved at the event. This was closely followed by up and coming 9 year old Ellie Mitchell who achieved four 1^st places and a 2^nd. This is Ellie’s first season competing and already she is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Murphy Talbot continued his winning streak by achieving two 1^st and two 2^nd places; and sisters Charlotte and Chloe Davis continue to be in top form as each achieved a 1^st place plus several other top 10 places across the events.

Lauren Greenbaum, Melissa Knighton, James Winnell, Mathew Winnell, Rory Geoghegan, Mark Greenbaum and Matthew Davis also achieved outstanding results, with all swimmers achieving personal best times and reaching County and Regional Level standards for all their events.

The quality of swimming from the Runnymede team was first rate achieving an overall 54 top ten places!

Essex County Championships – Block A

The Runnymede Swimming Club got off to a magnificent start at Block A of the Essex County Championships held on Saturday and Sunday 24^th and 25^th January at Blackshots swimming pool, Thurrock. The standard as usual was exceptionally high but all the Runnymede swimmers put in excellent performances despite the tough competition.

In the girls 11 Yrs age group category, credit has to go to Ellie Pirrie who achieved a Gold medal for 50m Butterfly, 4^th place the 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle and a 5^th place for 50 Backstroke. An all round remarkable performance. In the boys 12 Yrs age group, Rory Geoghegan achieved a Gold medal for 50m Breaststroke in a closely fought final, and a bronze medal for 50m Butterfly. In the girls 15 Yrs age group Chloe Davis notched up 2 Silver medals for 50m Butterfly and 50m Freestyle and a 4^th place for 50m Backstroke as she continues her outstanding form this season. In the boys 14 yrs age group, James Winnell achieved a Gold medal for 50m Butterfly with an easy lead, and a 5^th place for 50m Freestyle.

Other notable achievements from the weekend include Melissa Knighton secured 5^th place for 50m Backstroke in the 13 Yrs age group, Charlotte Davis was 6^th in the final of the 50m butterfly in the 17 Yrs age group; Sarah Ellis also achieved 6^th place in 50m breaststroke in the 10 Yrs age group and Roxanne Goldfinch again a 6^th place for 50m butterfly in the Girls 14 yrs age group.

A further 22 swimmers from the Runnymede Swimming Club took part in the Championships having reached the Essex County qualifying times. All swimmers gave fantastic performances on the day with many reaching personal best times across the events.

All the swimmers are now training hard in preparation for Block B of the Championships due to take place next month.