Swimming
Busy start to the new year

THERE was a busy start to 2012 for Redditch Swimming Club members as they attended two galas in one weekend.

The first meet was the Redditch Swimming Club-hosted gala, held at Droitwich Leisure Centre, and the event attracted four visiting teams and some very competitive races to help clear the Christmas cobwebs!

The final results were Halesowen 268 points, Redditch 215, Stourbridge 195, Worcester 190 and Evesham 112.

Although not managing to win the event, there were some excellent swims from Redditch SC aces with 24 personal bests (PBs) and 15 County Qualifying Times (CQTs) attained.

Out of the 32 individual race programme, Redditch achieved ten firsts and ten seconds, as well as three wins and four seconds in relay events.

In the nine-year-old age group there were wins for Oliver Walker (25m breaststroke) and Tommy Smith (25m butterfly and 25m freestyle), and second places for Luke Warren and Lizzie Kingham (both in 25m backstroke).

In the ten-year-old age group there were second places for Tilly Anderson (50m backstroke), Lauren Hughes (50m breaststroke) and Felix Gill (50m freestyle).

The 11-year-olds were back to their winning ways with victories for Tom Page (50m breaststroke), Rebecca Winn (50m breaststroke), Sally Monk (50m fly) and Tyler Hartles (50m freestyle) and second places for Daniel Noke (50m backstroke and 50m fly).

The 12-year-old age group continued the winning format with Rachel Weller (50m backstroke), Laura Cowley (50m fly and 50m freestyle).

Second places were won by Megan Moss (50m breaststroke) and William Moss (50m fly and 50m freestyle).

Redditch look forward to hosting their next gala in their 'own new home' at the brand new Abbey Stadium pool, which will open at the end of this month.

The next day Redditch SC swimmers were in action again in the Stourbridge Crystal Open meet held at Wolverhampton Central Baths.

This was an individual rather than a team event and RSC swimmers won four gold, two silver and five bronze medals but, just as importantly, also recorded a further 32 PBs and another 10 CQTs.

This means RSC have over 60 swimmers qualified for this year's Worcestershire County Championships.

Gold medallists were Alice Oliver (100m IM, 50m backstroke and 50m fly) and Amelia Tompkin (200m breaststroke).

Silver medallists were Hollie Richmond (50m backstroke) and Alice Oliver (50m freestyle) and bronze medallists were Amelia Tompkin (100m breaststroke), Joseph Hamilton (100m IM and 50m breaststroke), Harriet Smith (200m backstroke) and Sophie Lloyd-Smith (50m breaststroke).

Redditch Swimming Club are always looking for young swimmers with potential. For more information or a free trial please contact RSC's head coach Chris Britt on 01527 853257 or e-mail coach@redditchswim.org.uk.