Runnymede Storm to County Championships Golds
Runnymede Swimming Club blasted on to the County Swimming scene at the first weekend of the Age Group Championships. The Essex County Amateur Swimming Association is celebrating it’s 100th year since being formed in 1907, and the club were also in a party mood after achieving their best Championship performance for more than 10 years by taking 9 individual gold medals, 5 silvers and 3 bronze medals, plus plenty of top 6 finalists to score points throughout the weekend.
The Star performer title for Runnymede went to 9-year Ellie Pirrie on her major Championship debut. Ellie looked the class of the field and racked up a fantastic 3 Gold medals in the 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly and 50m Breaststroke events, and just missed another to take a Silver medal in the 50m Backstroke final to lead her age group going in to the 2nd round. Ellie also set new Championship best times in the heats and finals of the 50m Butterfly which is a major achievement and sets her up for a bright future in the sport.
Another of Runnymede’s rising stars Barton Townley looked to be in magnificent form in the 10-year age group. Bart swam impressively to Gold medals for the 50m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle and the 50m Backstroke fought hard to take 4th place in the 50m Breaststroke finals. Bart’s performances leave him in a dominant position on top of the 10-year age group table. The Gold medal for the 50m Breaststroke in this age group went to team-mate Rory Geoghegan with a great swim in the final of this event. Rory also made the final of the 50m Butterfly where he swam to 4th position on the medal rostrum. Bart & Rory’s Gold medals gave Runnymede a clean sweep of the boy’s 10-year events over the weekend.
Ryan Daniels lead from the start to power home to the Gold medal in the boys 12-year 50m Butterfly in a personal best time. His confident swim in this event and his recent improvement will hopefully lead to further success over the longer distance butterfly events to come.
Runnymede’s final gold medal was won by the club’s 2006 “Top Boy” award winner Henry Newton. His dominant swim in the 11-year 50m Butterfly race for a new best time, showed his determination to win in a final which was full of top class swimmers. Henry also came close to a second Gold, but had to be content with the Silver after being beaten on the touch by a fraction of a second in the final of the 50m Backstroke.
Chloe Davis gained her first individual Championship medals by winning Silver in the 50m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke for 12-year Girls and looks a strong contender for further medals throughout the Championships. Chloe set personal best times in all her heats and finals and will be looking to repeat this performance as the Championships move to the longer distances events.
Swimming for the first time in a major Championship was no barrier to Abigail Brown who looked at home in these surroundings. The 10-year girl performed brilliantly in the 50m Backstroke heats to go into the final in 2nd position. In the final, Abi was not out-gunned, and held on to win a well deserved Silver medal in a very quick time. Also making her County Championships debut was Runnymede’s Melissa Knighton in the 11-year age group. In the final of the 50m Backstroke, the finish was so tight for the top 4 places that only the electronic timing system could separate them and Melissa was confirmed as the Bronze medallist in a personal best time. In the same age group 11-year Ellie Townley swam a great heat and final to walk away with the Bronze medal in the 50m Freestyle. Ellie will look forward to more success in the next round.
Runnymede’s “Top Girl” for 2006, Rebecca Scott looked to have continued her good form in securing the Bronze medal in the final of the 50m Breaststroke in the 16-year and over age group. Rebecca was also in good form in the 50m Freestyle event and was only narrowly edged out of the final in this event as well. Patrick Neary followed last years achievements at the sprint events by surging his way to the bronze medal in the 50m Backstroke for 13-year boys, and swam well to gain a 5th place final placing in the 50m Breaststroke.
The club’s other top 6 finalists were: Jason Daniels who finished 4th in the 50m Backstroke, 5th in the 50m Freestyle and Butterfly, in the 14-year age group; Charlotte Davis for 4th place in the 15-year girls 50m Butterfly; Sarah Wright finished 5th in the 50m Backstroke for 14-year olds; 11-year Thomas Giles took 6th place honours in the final of the 50m Breaststroke to repeat last years feat. The last point scoring finalists were the girl’s team of Charlotte Delicata, Rebecca Scott, Charlotte Davis and Sarah Wright for 6th place in the final of the 4 x 50m Medley Relay event.
Head Coach Paul Eveleigh was understandably pleased with the teams efforts throughout the weekend, including from those who didn’t make the finals as almost everyone improved there best times. He said “This was one of the best performances I have seen in my time at the club, and I am looking forward to the next round of the Championships in February. It really makes all the hard work and dedication from these swimmers and their coaches worthwhile”.
Runnymede Swimming Club is an Amateur Swimming Association Swim 21 and SportSX Accredited Club. More information on the club can be found at www.runnymede.co.uk or by contacting Heather Davis on 01702 478380.