Thames Valley Junior League 2011 Round 1 Report

The T.V.J.L. is a development meet for swimmers 9 to 12 years old, swimming 50 metres in individual events and 25 metres in the relays.

Reading knew that they had a tough competition ahead of themselves swimming against very strong and previous winners of the league in Amersham and Wycombe and so it proved. They took on the task and produced an excellent result taking 3^rd place with some superb swimming.

1st places would be hard to achieve but that did not deter the young swimmers. With 12 year old Alex Bakker-Noguer continuing his excellent form in competitions since Christmas by improving his Breaststroke time for Breast to break the 40-second barrier to record a 39.72. Robbie Webster took the Backstroke in a P.B. time of 40.74 in the 11 years old age group.

2^nd places went to 11 years old swimmers Imogen McCalman in the Fly and Freestyle events, the Fly in a P.B. time of 36.14, and the Freestyle just off her P.B. in 23.11. Gemma Phillipps another swimmer continuing to improve her times with a P.B. in the Breaststroke with a time of 42.67.

In the 12 years age group Katie Boyce back in the water after breaking a bone in her hand record good times in the Freestyle in a time of 30.95. Ellie Fields Breaststroke time of 40.81, Joshua Goble on Freestyle in 30.14 gained good points for the team.

In the Relay events 2^nd spots went to the 11 years girls Medley team of Christa Drew, Gemma Phillipps, Imogen McCalman and Jasmine Wills, and in the Freestyle team Olivia Neale came in for Jasmine Wills. Both the 12 years old Girls and Boys Medley teams of Katie Boyce, Ellie Fields, Imogen McCalman and Lizzie Howling, Freddy Woods, Alex Bakker-Noguer, Joshua Goble and Max Mander

3^rd places the 10 years old for the girls Bethany Hunt another to improve her P.B. on Fly in 43.20 and for the boys William Stewart on Breaststroke and Backstroke in times of 53.35 and 45.05. 11 year old Slade Whittaker recorded a time of 50.58 in the Breaststroke.12 year old Katie Boyce and Alex Bakker-Noguer on Back in times of 39.19 and 37.87. On Fly Ellie Fields and Joshua Gobble with times of 39-24 and 36.04

Relays picking up 3^rd spots were the 10 years girls’ Medley team of Mollie Hobson, Daisy Butterworth, Bethany Hunt and Catrina Mulvhill. The 11 year boys Medley team of Slade Whittaker, Mitchell Coombes, George Kremer and Robbie Webster. Girl’s Freestyle team in the 12 years old age group of Ellie Fields, Lizzie Howling, Anne-Lise Stewart and Katie Boyce just missed a 2^nd place by 0.14.

A mention for Abbie Stewart, Mika Cuter, Ida Burrows, Lara Richardson, Fergus Mander, Jack Endersley, Jack Ellard, Martyn Ellwell. Many of these swimmers it was their first time in a league competition a number of them are still in our teaching programme. With no recorded disqualifications the future is looking bright.

“We are extremely pleased and encouraged by the result tonight. It would be a great achievement for us to make the ‘A’ Final this year and with some great swims like tonight, we have a good chance of doing so”.

Final Result:

Harry Wild