RUNNYMEDE SWIMMING CLUB

Runnymede S.C. has had made an excellent start to this years swimming season with many great results and new developments.

The first big development is that the Club is delighted to announce that they have appointed a new Head Coach following the departure of Paul Eveleigh. After 7 years at the helm Paul decided that now was the right time to step aside and handover the position to someone new. Assistant coach Stuart Jago has now been appointed as the Club’s new Head Coach and will be continuing his predecessor’s good work progressing the Club in the future.

Stuart joined RSC 18 months ago as an assistant coach and has been working closely with the swimmers and the existing coaching team which includes ex-commonwealth swimmer Nathalie Brown, Mandy Smith and Grant Williams; he is looking forward to the challenge of his new role within the Club and has many new and exciting ideas which will further develop the Swim21 Accredited Club. Stuart has a vast amount of coaching experience having previously worked with the successful and recently retired Borough of Southend Swimming Club Head Coach Mike Higgs.

Runnymede has had some outstanding early season results starting in late September with the Club’s annual trip to Overpelt in Belgium. Competing against some strong opposition from Germany, Holland and Belgium the team many of who were much younger and less experienced than previous years were lead by their excellent and enthusiastic Team Manager John Smith finished as 3^rd Top Club. There were some outstanding performances over the weekend from some of the more mature team members, notably 13 year old Chloe Davis and 14 year old Patrick Neary who both won the Gold Medal in every event they competed in except one where they both took silver. Other outstanding swims were by Charlotte Davis (15years); younger brother Matthew Davis (10years); Sarah Ellis (9 years); Ellie Pirrie (10 years) and Shannon Wennington (11 years).

Also scoring valuable points towards the teams over all total were Melissa Knighton, Ellie-Jade Smith, Sian Elmy, Amy Smith, Karena Martin, Yvette James, Elysia James, Sophie Hayward, Brooke Smith, Victoria Baynes, Brogan Smith, Emily Muggleton, Daisy Laffar, Howard Clarke, Charlie Benge, Jonathan Ellis, Blue Newton, William Muggleton, Henry Newton, George Knight and Zak Newton.

In the National Speedo League the Club who are in Division 1 of the London region have also been producing some outstanding results. With 2 rounds now completed Runnymede finished 4^th in the 1^st and a brilliant 3^rd for the first time in the 2^nd round. Over the 2 rounds there have been some great performances, in particular indidual 1st places were secured by Barton Townley, Ellie Pirrie, Charlotte Davis, Henry Newton and Rory Geoghegan. This is the Clubs best ever results in this competition and the team are busy preparing for the final round on 8^th December.

On the Open Gala Front the Club sent a large squad of swimmers to the Ipswich Open Meet at the end of October. The squad had some excellent swims and produced many personal best times finishing as 6^th Top Club. 10 year old Ellie Pirrie who is swimming brilliantly at the moment and competing against some of the best swimmers in the Region was 3^rd Top Girl in the overall competition. Ellie won the Gold Medal in 50m and 200m Butterfly, Silver in the 50m freestyle and 200m m I/M; Bronze in the 50m Backstroke and 200m freestyle; 4^th in the 200m backstroke and 5^th in the 50m and 200m Breaststroke events.

The Club’s other Gold Medal winner was 13 year old Chloe Davis in the 100m Butterfly. Chloe who is also having an excellent start to the years swimming also took Silver in the 200m Backstroke and 200m I/M; Bronze in the 100m Backstroke and 6^th in the 100m and 200m Freestyle events in her respective age group.

Other Silver Medal winners were Charlotte Davis (15yrs) in the 100m and 200m Butterfly, Charlotte also had some excellent swims taking 5^th place in the 100m and 200m Freestyle and 6^th place in the 200m I/M. Melissa Knighton also performed well in the 50m Backstroke taking the Silver Medal adding to her tally of Medals 4^th for the 200m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly; 5^th in the 50m Breaststroke and 6^th in the 200m Breaststroke.

Another of the Clubs younger swimmers who is rapidly improving this year is 11 year old Charlotte Hartin who took the Silver Medal in the 50m breaststroke for her age group and was 4^th in the 200m Breaststroke. Barton Townley had some great swims winning 4 Bronze Medals in the 200m Backstroke, Freestyle, Butterfly and I/M events and a 5^th in the 200m Breaststroke.

Shannon Wennington and James Winnell both won Bronze Medals in the 200m Buteerfly and 100m Backstroke events respectively. James also swam well in the 200m Backstoke fininsing in 5^th place and was 6^th in the 200m freestyle.

Other Medal winners included Ellie Townley 4^th 200m Butterfly and 6^th 200m Freestyle; Thomas Honeysett and Matthew Davis both took the 6^th place medals in the 200m Breaststoke events for their age groups.