Sunday 20
June 2008
EAST REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS
2008 Open Water Championships and age group
competitions incorporating the Essex Open
Water Championships 2008
THE OFFICIAL REPORT
29 Essex Swimmers took part in the East
Region Open Water championships at the
Whitlingham Outdoor centre in Norwich on a
day that was for the best part bright and
sunny but with ever present cloud cover
overhead, threatening rain, which thankfully
held off. Swimmers from Thurrock, Runnymede,
Epping, Colchester and Halstead braved the
chilly Norfolk waters whilst temperatures
dipped in and out of between 17- 19 degrees
C, during the day. With events carefully
monitored by organisations such as the
Outdoor centre staff, St John Ambulance,
Ipswich, Hertfordshire and RAF canoe
lifeguard clubs and associations, including
the cadets of the 1249 Derham squadron, the
swimmers were in very capable hands indeed.
Sue and Richard Whitehead from Epping, plus
Waltham Forest member Brian Kapp were
amongst the first class open water officials
taking care of the event during the morning
and afternoon, with further support from
Essex stalwarts Steve and Marion Westwood
along with Ray Jupp.
Sue Whitehead being a representative to the
ASA East Region Open Water committee.
Following the swimmers safety briefing for
the men’s 1.5K event, the swimmers entered
the water at a little after 10am to the oohs
and aarhs of spectators as the biting
temperatures of the lake embraced the
competitors on entry. After what appeared to
be an age for the swimmers, the starting
signal accompanied a mad dash to the first
buoy. Harry Payne (Runnymede) and Conor
Harrold (Thurrock) took up good positions at
the start of the race and eventually the
boys finished in the top three. Harry Smith
(Runnymede) following just off the pace in
the early stages took on Harold in the final
stages when the Thurrock swimmer veered off
course alarmingly nearing the finish line.
Harrold (19:34) picked up the pace to beat
Smith by a mere .02 of a second! Conor had
claimed afterwards that he had been blow off
course by the smell of the BBQ stand when
questioned about his sense of direction!
Payne finished almost half a minute in front
of his nearest rival St Felix’s Richard
Harris, to claim first place in the 12-16
year age group in a time of (19:01) Payne
thus collected a second Gold as overall
event winner an outstanding achievement. In
the remaining East Region age group placings
involving Essex swimmers, Conor Harrold was
second in the 12-16 age group and picked up
a terrific Bronze coming home third overall
in the event. Harry Smith a deserved Silver
medalist to Suffolk swimmer Harris in the
17-19 age group. Smith was rewarded with a
bronze in the Essex championship standings,
which rewards our county swimmers by their
placing overall in the event contested.
Harrold with silver and Payne claiming Gold.
Thurrocks Thomas Mangan was fourth in the
Essex final positions having had a fine swim
recorded at 21:12, followed by his twin
brother Alex, who recorded a time of 21:54.
Whilst the Essex positions are currently per
event with no age group denomination due to
the infancy of the activity in the county,
the regional event is split into various age
bands. The Novice 800m events have 4 bands,
12 year, 13-14 year, 15-16 year and finally
a 17+ age group. In the 1.5k, 3K and 5K
events, the age bands are expanded to cover
9 age groups, 12-16 years, 17-19 years,
20-24 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59
years and 60+. The event attracted swimmers
from 11 years currently (age was taken at
end of year) to 80, with Downham Markets
Donald Macfarlane the oldest swimmer on the
day.
The girls entered the water shortly after
the boys with Abigail Sayer (Thurrock),
Charlotte Davis (Runnymede), Alexandra Edge
(Runnymede) and Suzahn Vermaak (Epping)
representing the county. A tremendous swim
by eventual event winner Alex Panayides from
Teddington swimming as a guest. Swimmers
entering these open championships from
outside the region were awarded
commemorative medals to mark the
achievement. Abigail Sayer swam an
outstanding race to claim a silver medal in
the regional age group championship. Sayer
followed home Fenella Foskett from Deben SC,
6 seconds separating the two swimmers. In
the Essex competition, Sayer deservedly took
top honours with Charlotte Davis a strong
second and Suzahn Vermaak third. However in
the age group championships Vermaak claimed
Gold in the 17-19 age group category.
Taking part in the Men’s 3K Championship,
Thurrocks James Mitchell excelled in the 15
year age group. The distance specialist
looked solid throughout chasing down Alex
Raine from Mid Beds Swim Squad. Mitchell
eventually earning a silver medal from the
East Region President Mike Rainer in a time
of 40:39.69. Jonathon Sayer (Runnymede)
finished in second pace in the 17-19 age
group Runnymede’s, Sayer swam the second
fastest time of the day to record an
impressive 37:35.53. Jonathon duly collected
a second silver medal as reward for this
achievement. Roger Duncombe (Halstead)
swimming in the 40-49 age group collected a
tremendous Gold in the East Region age group
placings. Roger produced a creditable
57:11.22 to win his title. The three Essex
swimmers thus claimed their Essex medals,
Gold to Sayer, Silver to Mitchell and a
Bronze to Duncombe.
The 3K event for Women was not contested by
Essex swimmers this year. This was the case
for the grueling 5K event.
The Essex women thus contested their final
event in the 800m. Essex was well
represented in this competition with
Runnymede’s Chloe Davis (11:01.57) following
her sisters Essex triumph in the 1.5K race,
taking the lead early on and coming home
first girl, to win not only the regional
title in the Girls 13-14 year age group but
Chloe won the coveted Essex open water
Trophy for Top Essex Girl in that event and
first overall in the event as a whole. It
was a tough swim for the new Essex champion
and she worked hard to stave off a
determined challenge from Thurrock SC
Keriann Chipperfield (11:15.83). Kerriann
swam a determined race to secure a Triple
Silver triumph. Silver, in the regional age
group event, silver for finishing 2nd in the
event overall and silver in the Essex
overall competition. Young Rebecca Hayes
from the Thurrock swimming club came home a
superb 4th overall (11:24.35), being beaten
by City of Peterborough’s Ellen Williams
13-14 age group, on a mere touch, whilst
herself just touching out 15-16 year age
grouper Jennifer Titterington from Sudbury.
However, with Hayes reaching her 12 birthday
later in the month, it was a supreme effort
from the battling water urchin. Hayes duly
claimed the Regional title for the 12 year
age group and picked up a Bronze as third
placed Essex swimmer behind her two peers
Davis and Chipperfield. Essex swimmer Amelia
(Amy) Hatfield, another Thurrock starlet,
swam a time of 11:38.55 in the 15-16 year
age group but her overall top ten placing
and fourth place in the Essex competition
was a decent return for a very decent swim.
Yvette James 15-16 age group, from Runnymede
completed Essex strong team effort in the
800m event, Yvette finishing in a creditable
time of (12:46.67).
Essex Men contested the 800m event with
equal success and determination. Represented
by three Thurrock swimmers the trio of Jason
Daniels 15-16 age group, Thomas Ford 15-16
age group and tough guy Charlie Hard 13-14
year age group. Daniels was outstanding as
he swam to the Regional and Essex Titles in
a time of 10:24.91. Jason followed home the
remarkable Caleb Hughes from Mid Beds Swim
Squad to record second pace overall. The
brave Thomas Ford nursing a badly bruised
hand swam with a special cast but produced a
terrific swim to record a time of 10.46.96.
Ford eventually collecting triple medal
Silver success as Regional age group runner
up, a Bronze for finishing 3rd overall and
Essex overall silver medalist. Young Charlie
Hard finished a deserved Double Bronze
medalist. Hard completely unfazed by the
biting temperatures, certainly proved Hard
by name and Hard by nature. The Thurrock
swimmer finished in a time of 12:28.70.
In the 5K event, Essex fielded a strong
candidate in the men’s 17-19 age group.
Thomas Rootsey of Colchester took possession
of the handsome R A Jones Trophy. The solid
Silver colossus of a prize was a centre
piece of the Essex trophy table. Spectators,
officials and swimmers alike admired the cup
made in 1912 at the princely cost of 60
guineas. Alex Morgan, president elect and
Essex lead coach presented the huge cup to a
delighted Rootsey, who takes the historic
Essex Trophy for the second successive year.
Rootsey won a deserved Bronze medal by
finishing 3rd in his East region age group
event. Essex County ASA secretary Heather
Davis was delighted by the day’s success as
was fellow Essex Committee member Gary
Couch. With Paul Hayes assisting in the
presentation to Mrs. Morgan, all four
commented on a tremendously enjoyable day
and competition and the hope that the event
would entice more Essex swimmers to compete
in 2009. With only 6 Essex swimmers
competing in 2007, it certainly looks like
the open water championships will become an
important calendar date in future.
Paul Hayes
Committee member to the Essex County ASA
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