Harwich Claim Essex Mini League Victory
Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston Swimming Club delivered an outstanding all-round team performance at the latest Essex Mini League gala, finishing first overall with 166 points ahead of Halstead and Colchester.
The result was made even more impressive by the number of younger swimmers making their Mini League debuts, with many of the club’s Under-10 swimmers competing in the event for the first time and rising brilliantly to the occasion. The support shown by the older swimmers towards their younger teammates created a fantastic atmosphere around the pool, with experienced swimmers helping encourage and guide the club’s newest competitors through the gala. It was felt that the way the whole team supported each other was just as pleasing as the final result.
Strong swims across every age group helped secure the victory, with Alex Glover leading the way in the Open Butterfly and contributing to several successful relay teams. Laurence Wynne Jones delivered two outstanding swims gaining first place and smashing his personal best in the open 100m freestyle and knocking 3 seconds off his personal best time in the open 50m breaststroke. His performance throughout the gala earned him the accolade of swimmer of the gala.
The team started strongly with an impressive win from Amelia Waterman in the 11&under 50m backstroke, cutting more than 3 seconds off her personal best. She also placed second in the 50m butterfly in the same age group. Leo Knott swam a determined 50m breaststroke in the 10 & under age group, claiming first place in a 4 second personal best. Luca Hilton closely followed suit with a personal best and first place in the 11 & under 50m breaststroke. Hattie Freeman swam strongly in the 10 & under 50m freestyle first place in a 6 second personal best time, while Lucia Cockle claimed victory in the Girls’ 13&U Backstroke smashing her personal best. Charlie Roxby-Clarke swam a strong 50m butterfly in the 10 & under age group, claiming first place and also breaking his recently set personal best. Other individual first places came from Barney Weston in the Open 50m backstroke and Menna Beegan in the Open Girls 50m Breaststroke.
Personal bests were really the name of the game with many swimmers breaking their previously set times. Alex Spear stormed down the pool in an excellent time of 18.07 in the Boys’ 10&U 25m Butterfly. Lexi Flook gained an excellent personal best in the 50m backstroke, breaking the club record for her age, while Rosie Hazelton, Autumn Feeley- Headley, Jacob Barrowcliffe, Evelin Wood, Noah Jobling, Isabelle Race and Oliver Scrivener were also among those recording new best times.
Harwich’s relay teams proved decisive, with victories in the Boys’ 11&U Freestyle Relay, Boys’ 10&U Freestyle Relay and the boys mixed age Breaststroke and Butterfly relays Breaststroke relays. The Girls’ Open 4 x 2 x 1 Freestyle Relay team of Tabitha Pickersgill, Molly Richardson, Emily Turner and Menna Beegan proved to be unbeatable as did the girls mixed age Breaststroke relay.
Other swimmers competing for the team, giving outstanding performances and contributing to the overall outcome were Evelyn Keighley, Remi Hayes, Violet Nixon, Jessie Duffney Meabh O’Dea, Willow Feeley-Headley, Reid Ryall, Zach Guiezelar, Charlie Smith, Louie Brook, Herbie Pickersgill, Finn Muldoon, Shaidon Higgon-Williams and Tom Richardson.
The club demonstrated impressive strength and depth across the full programme and proved too strong for their opponents. Final points gave Harwich first place with 166 points, Halstead 2 nd with 155 points, Colchester 3 rd with 143 pts, Rochford 4 th with 112 pts and Woodham 5 th with 111 points.