National Speedo League – Enfield 9th October 2004

 

Runnymede Swimming Club's return to the National Speedo League began with a moral boosting 3rd place at the first round of the 2004/2005 season.  The club re-entered the league after a self imposed 3-year absence to rebuild the squad for the UK's leading league competition.  Runnymede's first outing in Division 2 of the London Area league exceeded expectations and will provide a great platform for future rounds of the competition.  The overall 3rd position only a few points behind winners Hemel Hempstead and well clear of the 4th placed club, was particularly satisfying for the coaching staff, as the gala involved seven other established and experienced clubs.

 

Head Coach Paul Eveleigh commented that, “this was a great all round display, given that half the team were swimming up at least one, sometimes two age groups. Nevertheless, we were within touching distance of the two teams who beat us, which says a lot about the future of this group of swimmers if they continue to improve.”  The continued development which brought many successes last seasons, saw Runnymede win promotion to Division 2 of the Essex Swimming League, gain a tremendous overall 4th Place in the South Eastern Junior Speedo League's top division, and many more swimmers qualifying for major Championships, is a constant source of pride within the club.

 

Runnymede's strong team of young swimmers produced some tremendous performances at the meet.  Matthew Scott underlined his recent good form by winning both the 100m Freestyle and 100m butterfly races in the 13 & under age group, adding to his tally of excellent swims over the last month.  The boys 9-11 year Relay team of George Smith, Alex Delicata, Blue Newton and William Muggleton started their evening in style with a 2nd place in the 4x50m Freestyle Relay, just missing out on the 1st spot, but then 2 hours later, went on to win the 4x50m Medley Relay in another very tight finish.  Aaron Eveleigh came up against some high-class opposition in the 15 & under age group.  In two hard fought races he eventually proved to strong for the challengers, winning the 100m Butterfly and 100m Freestyle events.  Aaron also stepped up an age group to compete in the Men's Open 100m Butterfly were he recorded an even faster time to finish 2nd in a race full of seasoned competitors.

 

Two very good swims from the male team came from the 13 & under relay squad comprising of Howard Clarke, Charlie Hunt, Elliott Eveleigh, Hugh Smith and Matthew Scott, who were placed 1st in the 4x50m Medley Relay, and 3rd in the 4x50m Freestyle Relay.  Other notable swims came from William Muggleton for 2nd in 10-11 year 50m Breaststroke, 10 year-old Alex Delicata for 3rd in the 10-11 year 50m Backstroke and Blue Newton, 3rd in the 10-11 year 50m Freestyle, and Alex Heldth in the 15 & under 100m Breaststroke.

 

The club's large squad of 13 & under age group girls combined to cover a range of events not only in their own age group, but in the 15 & under and Ladies Open age groups in the absence of some of their elder team-mates.  In the opening race of the gala, 12 year-old Charlotte Delicata stepped up to the block for the Ladies Open 200m Individual Medley and set a new personal best time to record a good 4th place.  This encouraging start and battling performance set the tone for the evening races where the club's young swimmers were not afraid to compete against their elder rivals.   Verity Goodey, Charlie Beale, Rebecca Scott, Claire Trenery and Georgie Hunt all raced in individual and relay events above their age group with some very impressive results.  When competing in their own age group the girls team showed their dominance.  Sarah Wright won by a clear 5m in the 13 & under 100n Backstroke, and combined with team members, Georgie Hunt, Charlotte Davis, Verity Goodey and Charlie Beale to win the 4x50m Medley and 4x50m Freestyle Relay events.  Charlotte Davis maintained her good form in Butterfly events, taking 1st place in the 13 & under 100m race and also putting in an impressive 2nd place performance in the Ladies Open 100m Butterfly. 

 

13 year old Samantha Knight battled well in her favoured 100m Breaststroke race, when she moved into the lead at the 50m turn and held on to win in an extremely close race with the competitor from Saxon Crown Swimming Club, finishing just outside her personal best time.  Sam then moved up to the 15 & under age group 100m Breaststroke, and repeated her good performance to gain a creditable 2nd place.  Sara Trenery, making her debut in the National League, recovered from a slow start in the 10-11 year 50m Breaststroke race to sprint through for an excellent 2nd place.  Also making her debut for the club was Jamie-Leigh Martin who claimed 2nd position in the Ladies Open 100m Freestyle event.

 

 

 

 

If you would like to join Runnymede Swimming Club, then come down to Runnymede Pool, Kiln Road Thundersley, on a Friday evening at 6:30pm to talk to the coaching staff.  The club is always interested in attracting swimmers of all abilities from 7-years upwards, and beginners in our Swim School from 5-years old.

 

League Table after Round 1

 

League Table after Round 1

R1 Gala Points

R2 Gala Points

R3 Gala Points

Total Gala Points

R1 League Points

R2 League Points

R3 League Points

Total League Points

Hemel Hempstead

300

 

 

300

8

 

 

8

Greenwich Meridian

291

 

 

291

8

 

 

8

Hoddesdon

287

 

 

287

8

 

 

8

Watford

286

 

 

286

7

 

 

7

Phoenix (Basildon)

280

 

 

280

7

 

 

7

Colchester

275

 

 

275

7

 

 

7

Runnymede

263

 

 

263

6

 

 

6

Bethnal Green

259

 

 

259

6

 

 

6

City of St Albans

257

 

 

257

5

 

 

5

Stevenage

253

 

 

253

6

 

 

6

Hounslow Hurricanes

244

 

 

244

4

 

 

4

Anaconda

230

 

 

230

5

 

 

5

Ware

229

 

 

229

3

 

 

3

CKSC

225

 

 

225

5

 

 

5

Potters Bar

223

 

 

223

4

 

 

4

Sutton/Chm+Ch.L.

218

 

 

218

3

 

 

3

Saxon Crown

215

 

 

215

4

 

 

4

Epping For. Dist.

210

 

 

210

3

 

 

3

Verulam

177

 

 

177

2

 

 

2

Acton

158

 

 

158

2

 

 

2

Seven Islands

137

 

 

137

1

 

 

1

Newham

136

 

 

136

2

 

 

2

Brent Dolphins

117

 

 

117

1

 

 

1

Cheshunt B

107

 

 

107

1

 

 

1

 

 

 

Round 2 Draw

 

Gala 1 Venue

Club

Host Club

Southbury Road

Hemel Hempstead

 

6:30 For 7:00

Watford

 

 

Runnymede

 

 

Stevenage

 

 

Ware

 

 

Sutton/Chm+Ch.L.

 

 

Verulam

 

 

Newham

HOST

Gala 2 Venue

Club

Host Club

Borehamwood

Greenwich Meridian

 

6:15 For 6:45

Phoenix (Basildon)

 

 

Bethnal Green

 

 

Hounslow Hurricanes

 

 

CKSC

HOST

 

Saxon Crown

 

 

Acton

 

 

Brent Dolphins

 

Gala 3 Venue

Club

Host Club

Hitchin

Hoddesdon

HOST

6:30 For 7:00

Colchester

 

 

City of St Albans

 

 

Anaconda

 

 

Potters Bar

 

 

Epping For. Dist.

 

 

Seven Islands

 

 

Cheshunt B