More Medals for Runnymede at Block C of the County Championships

2007 looks like being one of the most successful years in Runnymede Swimming Club’s recent history. The club is currently standing in overall 5^th place from a total of 26 competing clubs after more success at the third weekend of the Essex County Age Group Championships. Runnymede have now amassed more than twice the amount of points they scored last year and are on course to achieve their target of an overall top 6 position going into the 4^th and final weekend at the end of the Championships later in March.

10-year-old Barton Townley produced one of his best swims so far at the Championships to scoop another Gold medal in the 200m Individual Medley. His time of 2:49.26 looks to put him into a realistic chance of a medal when the competition moves up a standard to the Regional Championships in June if he maintains his hard work in training. Close on the heals of Barton, was Runnymede’s other 10-year top performer Rory Geoghegan. Rory swum a great race to win the silver medal in the same event and continues to impress throughout the Championships. Not content with his Gold medal, Bart then went on to win Silver for 2^nd places in the 200m Butterfly and the 400m Freestyle and also reach the Regional Qualifying standard as well. Rory also maintain his 100% record of achieving a top 6 placement in his events by taking 4^th position in the 400m Freestyle and 5^th in the 200m Butterfly. Barton leads the 10-year standings with Rory lying in overall 3^rd position going into the final weekend.

Runnymede’s top 9-year girl Ellie Pirrie was again on top form. Ellie still leads the overall 9-year table going into the last round after she won Silver for 2^nd place in the 200m Breaststroke. Even though Ellie will move into the 10-year age group for the Regional Championships, she has already achieved the qualifying times and looks good to turn some early potential into real success.

Henry Newton was also in the medals at the Championships. He has achieved a top 6 place in all age group events he has competed in, and this time he swum well to win Bronze medals in the 11-year 200m Backstroke and the finals of the 100m Individual Medley. In the same 100m Individual Medley final, Thomas Giles swum to a 6^th position pennant and a new personal best. Chloe Davis also maintained this season’s rapid improvement to win herself two more medals. Chloe took bronze in a very close final of the 100m Freestyle with a massive personal best performance. She also won the bronze medal in the 200m Butterfly event with a huge personal best improvement. Chloe will now look forward to the final weekend later in the month to see if she can finish on the top of the overall 12-year table.

15-year Charlotte Delicata is one of Runnymede’s busiest swimmers at these Championships with a race program that looks more like a typical training session which shows her all-round ability in the pool. Charlotte won Bronze for 3^rd place and her first Championship Medal of the season in a very close 400m Individual Medley event with a personal best improvement of more than 5 seconds and a Regional Qualifying time. She also competed in the longest distance event at the Championships, the 1500m Freestyle, and won another Championship pennant for 4^th place and smashed her previous best time by nearly one minute. Charlotte won two more 4^th place pennants in new best time in the 200m Backstroke and the 200m Individual Medley.

Another of Runnymede’s all-rounders Madison Townley collected another two top 6 place honours with 4^th place in the Final of the Girl’s 10-year 100m Individual Medley, and another 4^th position in the 200m Breaststroke event. Madi has maintained a 100% personal best improvement throughout the Championships. 14-year Jason Daniels had a gruelling programme of races this weekend swimming in the heats and finals of 6 events. Jason’s best performance came in the final of the 100m backstroke where the blanket finish showed that there was less than 0.5 second separated the top 5 swimmers. The electronic timing system placed Jason in 4^th position, just outside the medals, but he will take heart in his great performance in one of the closest races of the Championships so far. Jason was in good form in the 200m Backstroke and achieved another 4^th position finish and Regional qualifying time, and also was placed 7^th in the 100m Freestyle, 8^th in the 1500m Freestyle and 9^th in the 200m Freestyle events. Overall more than 90% of the races by Runnymede swimmers have resulted in them setting personal best times.

Runnymede’s other top 10 finishers were: Melissa Knighton (11yr) 7^th 100m Backstroke; Alex Delicata (13yr) 7^th 200m Butterfly, 9^th 200m Freestyle; Charlie Beale (15yr) 8^th 100m Freestyle; Sarah Wright (14yr) 100m Butterfly, 9^th 100m Breaststroke; Rebecca Scott (16yr+) 8^th 200m I/M; Adam Carter (14yr) 1500m Freestyle; Ryan Daniels (12yr) 200m Freestyle; Molly Giles (9yr) 200m Breaststroke; Ellie Townley (11yr) 100m Backstroke; Charlotte Hartin (11yr) 100m Breaststroke; Charlotte Davis (15yr) 10^th 100m Freestyle.

1998, 1999 and 2000 born swimmers (or any others) who would like to try out competitive swimming should contact the Club Secretary Heather Davis on 01702 478380 to arrange an assessment by the coaching staff and free trial sessions. Due to expansion of the club, qualified ASA level 3 Coaches or level 2 Teachers willing to work 6-8 hours per week should also contact Heather to arrange an interview and discuss terms.

Runnymede Swimming Club is an Amateur Swimming Association Swim 21 and Essex County Council SportSX Accredited Club. More information on the club can be found at www.runnymede.co.uk