Report on the Borough of Waltham Forest Olympic Development Meet 2006
Top Female Award for Donna Spooner
Runnymede Swimming Club's Donna Spooner scooped the overall 16-years and over Top Female trophy at the Level 1 licensed meet at Waltham Forest with great individual performances in seven events over 2 days. The meet aimed at National and Regional qualifying swimmers turned out to be a successful weekend for the club, and also a great warm-up gala for the younger members of the squad who were heading off to Norwich for the Regionals over the next few weekends. Donna's times also marked her return to form and are just reward after a sustained period of hard work in the pool during training. Although she didn't quite make the top place on the medal rostrum, Donna took 4 silvers in the 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 200m Backstroke and 200m Individual Medley events, 2 bronzes in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke, and a 4th position medal in the 50m Freestyle.
Ryan Daniels continued his recent run of wins in the 200m Butterfly events by swimming to the Gold medal position in the 11-years and under age group, and also added another medal to his collection by taking 4th place in the 200m Individual Medley.
In the Girls 14/15 years age group Charlotte Davis (14yr) stepped onto the rostrum in silver medal position for her swim in the 200m Butterfly and also took 5th place in the 100m Butterfly Final. Also competing in the 14/15 year age group was Charlotte Delicata, (14yr). Charlotte took a full bag of medals away with for her endeavours in all six events that she competed in. Her highest positions were for 4th in the 100m Backstroke final, the 400m Freestyle and the 400mm Individual Medley. She also achieved three 5th places in the 200m Butterfly, 200m Backstroke and the 200m Breaststroke. In the same age group Samantha Knight put in a solid performance to finish 5th in the 100m Breaststroke final.
For the boys 12/13 years age group, Jason Daniels (13yr) was again on top form. He set himself four personal best times, smashing some of his previous best performances. Jason's highest placing came in the 200m Butterfly event where he took the silver medal with a great swim, and he also gained two 4th place medals in the 200m Backstroke and 400m Freestyle with performances which will see him climb up the Regional rankings. In the same age group Alex Delicata (12yr) set new best times in the 100m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly, 200m Butterfly, 200m Backstroke and the 400m individual Medley. All of his times were inside the Regional qualifying standard.
Sarah Wright (13yr) collected another 4 medals during the weekend in the 12/13 year age group. He highest placing was for 4th in the final of the 100m back stroke and also another 4th place in the 400m Freestyle. Sarah also took a brace of 5th place medals in the final of the 100m Butterfly and the 200m Backstroke event. Chloe Davis (12yr) stepped up to the distance races and made an immediate impact on the 800m Freestyle event by taking 5th position in the 12/13 year age group in her first competitive race. Chloe also achieved another 5th position medal placing in the 200m Butterfly and put several other good performances over the weekend. Also competing in the same age group were Bethany Goldfinch and Yvette James, who were taking their first steps into the top level of swimming galas. Both girls put in great displays and achieved personal best times in all their events.
Brothers Harry Smith (15yr) and George Smith (12yr) turned out for the 400m Freestyle races in there age groups where they performed admirably setting new best times for themselves for their efforts in the pool. Rebecca Collins had a successful meet with two new best tines in the 50m Freestyle and 200m Freestyle events and rounding off a busy weekend of swims having been at Colchester the previous day.