Reading Swimming Club

 

Press report: Peter Hood

 

Thames Valley Junior League Friday 9th April 2005 Newbury

 

Reading Evening post sponsored Reading Swimming Club’s junior swimmers travelled to Newbury for the “B” final of the Tames Valley Junior League last Saturday. The team, with many inexperienced swimmers, swam with great credit to finish third, just two points behind second place.

 9 Year old age group

The 9 year old age group swam relay events. As well as the usual freestyle and medley relays there were two mixed relays consisting of two boys and two girls. All of the swimmers were from Reading Swimming Club’s teaching programme and credit must go to Jakie Cantle and her team of coaches for doing such a great job. The boys’ team of Sam Robinson, Jodhvir Sidhu, Joe Titchband and Jacob Lancashire finished second in the Medley relay and third in the freestyle relay. Joe was joined by Andrew Jukes, Kate Metalli and Natalie Hawkins who finished second in the mixed freestyle relay. Olivia Paige and Yasmin Dickson came in for Kate and Natalie into the mixed medley relay who finished third.

10 Year old age group

The older age groups, including the 10 year old age group, swam50 metre individual events as well as relays. Georgina Wilkins’ hard work in training paid off as she won the breaststroke in a best time of 52.38. Not to be out-done Jeremy Spanu also won his breaststroke in a fine time of 51.47. Will Tyrell swam a best time to finish third in the butterfly. Bethany Staley impressed in both her events finishing third in the backstroke. Sebastian Cutler and Joe Titchband joined Will and Jeremy to finish second in both relays. The girls finished third in their freestyle relay where Bethany and Georgina were joined by Natalie Cawthorne and Francesca Alsina.

11 Year old age group

Annette Hopson impressed in this age group winning her backstroke, dipping under the 40 second mark for the first time in 39.98. Annette also came second on the butterfly. Eleanor Wood swam a best time of 37.16 to finish third in the freestyle. Emily Nichols swam a best time in her breaststroke event. For the boys James Bradley swam two best times finishing second in the backstroke and third in the butterfly. Matthew Alderman also swam two best times finishing third in the breaststroke. These two boys were joined by new-comers Joseph Statham and Joshua Mulvihill for the two relays,  Joseph and Joshua have to be thanked for swimming, having been called upon at the last minute.

12 Year old age group

This was by far Reading ’s best age group, particularly the girls, who won three out of their four individual events as well as both their relays. Fast improving Eleanor Cawthorne showed real promise winning her backstroke in a best time of  exactly 40 seconds. Frankie Wilkins continued her good form of late winning her butterfly event. Katie Hawkins also looked impressive winning her breaststroke in a good 41.30. These girls were joined by Isabella Ramos for the two victorious relays. Three second places and a third for the boys in the individual events, however, they too won both their relays. Callum Wilcox came second in the freestyle, Chris Boyce in the butterfly and Jason Passmore in the breaststroke. James Titchband came third in the backstroke. Matteo Spanu joined these boys for the two winning relays.

The final event was a mixed squadron relay consisting of one swimmer from each age group. The team of Kate Metalli, Sam Robinson, Georgina Wilkins, Will Tyrell, Eleanor Wood, James Bradley, Frankie Wilkins and Chris Boyce finished second to round off a good evening.

Points: 1. Wycombe 147; 2. Newbury 106; 3. Reading 104; 4. Amersham B 53