Sheffield and District Championships
This years Sheffield & District Gala was held at Ponds Forge International venue on the 6th February and was attended by all the clubs within and around the Sheffield area. The vast majority of Rotherham swimmers who attended the meet were rewarded with medals of all colours and many personal best times were achieved. For many of the younger swimmers it was their first gala and to be swimming it at an International pool just added to their excitement. All events are age group except the 200 and 400 events, which are open.
Girls Competition
Fourteen year-old Jessica Busby gained five Gold medals in the 100 Fly, Freestyle, and Backstroke, 200 Fly and Backstroke and also Silver in the 200 Freestyle and Bronze in the 400 Freestyle. Rachel Grainger fourteen won a hat trick of Gold medals in the open section, which was the 400 Freestyle, 400, IM and 200 Freestyle. Twelve year-old Chloe Rooker was in top form gaining Gold medals in the 100 Fly, 50, 100 Freestyle plus Silver’s in the 50 Fly and 50 Backstroke. Alicia Hartley (12) won a brace of Gold’s in the 50 Backstroke and 50 Breaststroke were she has maintained her stranglehold on the title for the 4th consecutive year; she also won a Silver medal in the 100 Breaststroke and Bronze in the 100 Backstroke. Fiona Connell (13) won Gold in the 100 Fly, Silver in the 50 Fly and Bronzes in the 50 and 100 Freestyle. Ten year-old Rebecca Durn claimed Gold in the 100 Backstroke a Silver in the 50 Fly and Backstroke and Bronzes in the 50 Breaststroke and 50 Freestyle, also ten Abbie Ackroud claimed Gold in the 50 Breaststroke with Lyn Shackshaft also taking Gold in the fourteen year-old Category. Eleven year-old Rebecca Finnie claimed a total of four Silver medals in the 100 Backstroke, Freestyle and 50 Freestyle and Fly. Kelsy Longden (15) won Silver medals in the 400 IM and Freestyle with Shannon Eades (14) taking the Bronze in the 400 IM and Bronzes in the 200 Freestyle. Abbie Hull (13) claimed the Silver Medal in the 100 Fly with Katie Pollard (11) the Silver medal in the 100 Breaststroke. Kenyon Kellett (9) won Bronze Medals in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke, also nine Kayley Britten claimed Bronze in the 50 Backstroke with older sister Rebecca (13) claiming Bronze in the 100 Backstroke. Eight Year-old Abigail Kennett was in outstanding form considering it was the first time she had ever swum in a long course pool taking Bronze medals in the 100 Freestyle and Breaststroke. Thirteen year-old Georgia Naughton claimed a Bronze medal in the 50 Breaststroke and Zoe Thomson (15) claimed Bronze in the 50 Fly with Molly Simpson taking Bronze in the 100 Breaststroke. Two outstanding performances for very different reasons were Harriet Esberger (12) who’s goggles came down at the beginning of the race but she still managed to claim a Bronze medal in the 50 Free, also Rebecca Bamber despite only being eleven swimming the 200 Fly open and taking the Bronze Medal.
Boys Competition
Top boy on the day was 9 year-old Jack Whitehurst who gained a hatful of medals which consisted of Gold’s in the 50 and 100 Breaststroke, 100 Freestyle followed by Silver’s in the 50, 100 Backstroke and Freestyle. Connor Neal (11) continued his fine form by taking a hat trick of Gold medals in the 100 Breaststroke, Freestyle and 50 Fly. Also scoring a hat trick of Gold medals was Thomas Nelson (19) who led from start to finish in extremely measured swims in the 100 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke and 400 Freestyle. George Russell (13) gained 5 medals all in the open section which were Gold’s in the 400 IM and 200 Fly with Silvers in the 200IM, 200 Freestyle and Bronze in the 400 Freestyle. Sixteen year-old Adam Parkes came away with gold medals in the 200 and 400 open freestyle events, also gaining a magnificent seven medals was fourteen year-old James Newton who gained a Gold in the 50 Breaststroke with Silvers in the 50 Freestyle, Backstroke and 100 Breaststroke and finally Bronze medals in the 100 Freestyle and 200 Breaststroke and 50 Fly. Devin Kellett (12) gained Gold in the 50 Backstroke and Silvers in the 50 and 100 Breaststroke, also twelve Josh Hillman gained Gold in the 100 Backstroke and Bronze medals in the open section for the 200 Backstroke and Fly. Another twelve year-old Robert Pearson gained Gold in the 100 Freestyle and Silver in the 100 Backstroke, also taking Silver in the 100 Freestyle was fourteen year-old Sam Pearson. In the eleven year-old category Jack McGann claimed Silver medals in the 50 Fly and 100 Freestyle, also eleven Ben Cliff gained Silver in the 50 Backstroke and Bronzes in the 50 Fly and 100 Freestyle. Connor Wood (11) won Silver in the50 Free and Bronze in the 50 Breaststroke also eleven Ehren Beresford claimed Silver in the 100 Fly despite his goggles coming down which was another outstanding feat. Luke Hamstead (12) won Bronzes in the 100 Breaststroke and 50 Backstroke also taking two Bronze medals was Adam Blackwell in the 50 Backstroke and the long plunge event. The battle royal on the day was between eight year-old twins Oliver and Alex Naughton with Oliver taking Silver in the 100 Breaststroke and Alex Bronze, this result was then reversed in the 100 Freestyle with Alex taking Silver and Oliver Bronze and to round the day off Oliver gained a Bronze in the 50 Fly.
Also competing:
Robyn Hartley, Amelia Kurley, Brodie Benson, Thomas Hesling, Holly Empson, Isabelle Stewart, Hannah Burgess, Megan Dobson, Dylan Bohm, Liam Blackwell, Elliot Smales, Ceri Thorman, Courtney Cutler, Lucy Handley, Alex Forth, Ellisa Dawson, Megan Lowe,Caitlin Binns, Lois Vardy, Thomas Charnock, Jacob Parkes, Grace Esberger, Becky Richmond, Laura Gillott, Eleanor Coleman and Alexander Machen who was the youngest competitor as it was his 8th birthday.