Final Round Thames Valley Junior League

Due to the severe winter weather in January round 1 had to be cancelled with the results from the round swam in February deciding which final your team made, this meant Reading qualified for the ‘B’ Final. 

The Reading young swimmers produced a night of magic; results highlighted the fact that out of 43 events 37 were swam faster than the last round. Only 3 wins were recorded then, this time there were 12 with many of them being P.b’s. 9 of these were in the individual events. 

11 years old Ellie Fields swimming up an age group in the 50 F/s won in a time of 32.73. Then swimming on her favoured Breaststroke in the 11 years age group she recorded her 2^nd win, in 40.28 both P.b’s. Other swimmers winning in the 11 years age group with P.b’s were Maddie Bell on F/s in 33.91 and Katie Boyce on Backstroke in 40.22. 

10 year old Bruno Kempster maintaining his success in the last round produced the goods with another 2 P.b’s winning the Fly and Backstroke events in times of 38.52 and 39.28. Also in the 10years age group there were wins by Gemma Phillips on Breaststroke and Christa Drew on Fly in times of 48.11 and 43.20 respectively. Joshua Goble took the boys Fly in 42.47.

Wins in relay events went to the 10 years Boys Medley and F/s teams of George Kremer, Bruno Kempster, Sahil Pau and Gianlucca Chessell, in 2 exciting races. The 11 years Boys F/s team of Freddy Woods, Joshua Goble, Alex Bakker-Noguer and Max Beasley held on to win.

In the 12 years age group 2nd places went to 11 years old Anya Charrington, another swimmer asked to swim up an age group in the Fly event in a time of 38.74. Lucy Douglas and Tads Ciecierski-Holmes swimming F/s in a times of 39.70 and 31.78. Esme Lower on Breaststroke in 44.98 this a massive 4 second improvement.

10-year old boy swimmers gaining 2^nd spots were Mitchell Coombes on Breaststroke in 52.20 and George Kremer on F/s in 39.26.

The Girls 11 years old F/s team of Hannah Stewart, Maddie Bell, Sophie Castle and Lizzie Howling all members of the Age Group Squad put all their training to good use to claim a good 2^nd place.

Individual 3^rd places went to Alex Bakker-Noguer on Fly in 40,70 and Tads Ciecierski-Holmes on Backstroke in 39.68 both these swim being P.b’s.

Relay teams picking up 3^rd spots were the 12 Girls medley team of Lucy Douglas, Esme Lower, Ellie Fields and Harriet McCabe. In the F/s team Taniaka Chitemerere and Anya Charrington changed places with Ellie Fields and Harriet McMabe.

The Boys 11-year F/s team of Freddy Woods, Alex Bakker-Noguer, Max Beasley and Max Mander just missed out on the 2^nd spot.

Another 3^rd place went to the 10-year old Girls medley team of Annika Pau, Gemma Phillips, Christa Drew and Jana Ciecierska-Holmes.

A special mention to all the 9 year old swimmers. This being only their 2^nd competition gaining 4^th places in their relay events, Faye Mulford, Oliva Neal, Bethany Hunt, Daisy Butterworth, Catrina Mulvhill, Molly Hobson, Ruud Drew, Matthew Peters, Javier Bakker-Noguer, and Jack Endersley.

The final race of the competition always produces the loudest noise from the balcony: the 8 x 25 F/s Squadron, 1 girl and boy from each of the age groups giving everything for their teams. In a touch finish the Reading team of Molly Hobson, Ruud Drew, Christa Drew, Bruno Kemster, Katie Boyce, Joshua Goble, Ellie Fields and Tads Ciecierski-Holmes just missed winning by 0.08 of a second.

Thanks to all the poolside helpers J.T., Natalia, Niko, Sian, Georgia, Kayleigh Morgan and Ellie. All these young swimmers gave up their spare time to assist.