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KILLERWHALES ON TOP.
The Killerwhales were in fine form as they won the Kenville Jackson Memorial Trophy.

The Killerwhales were victorious at the weekend as they went to compete for the Kenville Jackson Memorial Gala Trophy, an event hosted by Bishops Stortford SC. The format the evening competition pitched four clubs against each other with swimmers earning points for their clubs total via their finishing position in the 50 various age group races.

First off for the whales was Lauren Rouffe who swam up an age group to compete in the Ladies Open (16 yr +) 200m medley. After the 50m fly Lauren turned in 3^rd place but a wonderful 50m of backstroke saw her move to the front with a lead that she held leaving the others to fight over second place.

Dean Smith also swam up an age in the Men's Open 200m. As they approached the blocks the shear physical size of the other competitors gave Dean an indication of the challenge ahead but not one to duck out Dean went after these men with strong determination, after staying with the two leaders for 100m Dean dropped too far behind to compete for 1^st place but did secure 3^rd in emphatic style.

The noise levels rose a few decibels as the swimmers competed in a series of age group relays. The girls 11yr and under  quartet of Jodie Momodu, Molly Scott, Christina Stenson and Heather Wilson took on the challenge for the 4 x 50m freestyle and were cheered all the way home to a fine win. The boys of Toby Andrews, Sam Sparks, Tom Web and Tom Skingsley each worked hard against a good host team, it was nip and tuck all the way with the Whales being touched out by just 4 tenths of a second.

The 13 and under girls 4 x 50m medley team of Katinka Merchan, Georgia Shaw, Claire Wilson and Katie Miles were dominant from the start taking a good lead at the first change right through to the end to win by 2 seconds. The boys four of Lewis Clifford-Stephenson, Lee Parker, Johnny Congdon and Tom Webb were keeping pace with a strong Hemel Hempstead team and touched them out in a thrilling final 25m, however the joy wasn’t to last as the four were later disqualified.

Lauren Rouffe, Lauren Andrews, Robyn Beadel and Henny Andrews made up the four in the girls 15 years and under 4 x 50m freestyle relay race. A good start saw them in first at 50 m and 100m but a spirited fight-back by Bishop Stortford saw them hand over for the final 50m in the lead, on the final leg it was tight all the way but the Killerwhales girls could not quite make it back being touched out by less than four tenths. The 15 yr and under boys faired better, a brisk start was shared between the Whales and Hitchin SC who were never more than half a second apart for the whole 200m at each change the Whales were marginally in front right up to a thrilling finish which the boys, Dean Smith, Dan Bleach, Tom Bircham and James Shelley came home in first place by 7/100^ths of a second.

The Ladies Open medley team consisting of new Girls Captain & Vice-Captain Laura Andrews and Janine Rayner, Kirsty Forbes and Lauren Andrews were dominant from the off, Kirsty’s powerful backstroke leg gave Laura a five second advantage for the fly which she increased to six seconds, Janine extend the lead on the breaststroke leg by another second for Lauren to sprint home still 7 seconds in front of second place. The Men’s Open team of Stephen Dawkins, Vice-Captain David Haynes, Captain Dan Hime and Ben Clifford-Stephenson were very impressive, a fast start saw them a second clear at 50m, subsequent on pace change over saw the lead increase to two seconds at 100m three seconds at 150m and nearly five seconds at the finish, however their joy was short lived as they were judged to have committed a false takeover and subsequently disqualified.

Heather Wilson and Toby Andrews both swam in their respective boys and girls 11yr and under 50m backstroke races. Heather was just touched out into 3^rd place whilst Toby went one better to finish second.

Claire Wilson was up against a fine breaststroker from Hitchin in the 13yr and under 100m breaststroke but a gutsy display saw her hold off a strong second half challenge from the Hemel Hempstead girl to finish second. Lewis Clifford Stephenson swimming up a age group was also pitted against two strong swimmers from Hemel Hempstead and Hitchin, a fast first 50 saw Lewis just fractionally behind the eventual winner from Hemel, as the race drew on the older lads strength from Hitchin told as he finished 6/100^ths ahead.

Robyn Beadel got the Killerwhales back to winning ways with a fine 100m backstroke in the girls 15yr and under age group race. The girl from Bishops Stortford went with Robyn’s early pace but she could not sustain the energy needed to stay with Robyn and fell behind to be beaten by a second. Daniel Bleach was somewhat unaccustomed swimming backstroke but showed his ability with a good early pace turning at halfway just behind in 3^rd place, he dug deep over the final 50m but found no way to get back in contention for first nor second places but manage a good time finishing in third.

Laura Andrews took up the butterfly challenge in the Ladies Open 100m, as always she looked majestic with her elegant style which held her in good stead as she won by over 2.5 seconds. 16 yr old David Haynes like Laura is also a very fluid ‘flyer, however he was up against an equally impressive man from Bishop Stortford. Having lived with the early pace David found it difficult to maintain it and settle for a comfortable second place.

Swimming in the 11yr and under girl and boy 50m butterfly events were Jodie Momodu and Tom Webb. Both went well and both managed to dip under 40 seconds, the similarities in performances continued as both finished in second place.

Katinka Merchan and Lee Parker were next up in their respective 13yr and under 100m Backstroke races. Katinka once again put the opposition under pressure from the gun, her impressive starting broke the opposition before they reached the first turn, at 50m she was 1.5 seconds up and cruised home to win by nearly two lengths. Lee soon after the start realised that his race was to be about second, third and fourth places as the boy from Hemel raced off into the distance. Lee, not to be caught out chasing lost causes, was not intimidated by the speed of the winner and instead swam his own race. He was up by half a second at 50m and then he showed further good form and pulled slightly further away to claim a fine second place.

Lauren Andrews swam in the 15yr and under 100m butterfly, she set the early pace and continued in front for 75m but ran out of a little steam down the final length to allow the girl from Hitchin to overtake. Dean Smith in the boys event had a different strategy, he set off keenly but made sure he recognised who would be his strongest challenger and it soon became evident that the boy from Bishop Stortford was the one to watch. Dean stalked him to the halfway mark turning half a second down, he then hit the gas drawing level down the next length and hitting the front at 75m his turn proved decisive because as they surface Dean had pulled 2 lengths clear and moving further away to win by nearly three seconds.

Kirsty Forbes and Stephen Dawkins continued the theme with two very impressive wins in the Ladies and Men’s 100m backstroke. Kirsty was imperious from the off, her start put her 2 lengths clear and continued to absolutely dominate the rest of the race, finishing eight (yes 8) seconds clear. Steven’s start and turns also proved to be the decisive elements over his rivals as he completed a fine win by 3 clear seconds.

Molly Scott got in on the winning act in her 11yr and under 50m breaststroke, she sped her way to an impressive victory with clear water between her and the rest. Sam Sparks had a real scrap with the lad from Bishop Stortford, both matching stroke for stroke the opposition took a slight lead in the final 10m to win by 4/10^ths of a second.

Katie Miles and Johnny Congdon were next in the pool for their respective 13yr/under 100m butterfly races. Katie had a real nail bitter of a race pacing herself to perfection, in last place at the 50m mid point she started working harder and gradually started to catch the opposition, at the final turn she was 3^rd and as they progressed she drew level with the girls from Hemel H and Bishop S as they approached the wall it was all down to who could spot the finish better, Katie did the business and touched out the other two although there was only 8/100^ths separating them. In marked contrast Johnny was just awesome he went out hard from the start and was nearly 5 seconds up on his nearest rival at 50m, from here he could easily have cruised home but was obviously looking for a quick time, which he got whilst winning by over 8 seconds. Wow!

Lauren Rouffe was back in her age group swimming the 15yr/under 100m freestyle, this time after setting the early pace she just came up a little short to finish 2^nd by over a second. James Shelley in the boys 100m free emulated his team-mate and also finished second to a very impressive sub 59 sec swim by the Hitchin lad, James himself couldn’t quite dip the 60 sec mark himself but had clear water between himself and 3^rd/4^th places.

Janine Rayner had a tough swim in the Ladies 100m Open breaststroke, good early form saw her clear 3^rd and 4^th and chase after the lead girl, however there wasn’t quite enough left in the tank to see her catch up and had to settle for a good second place. Dan Hime in the Men’s event had a good old battle with the senior swimmer from Hemel H. The pair seemed to swap the lead at every other stroke with Dan in the lead at halfway, sensing another tight finish the gallery beckoned on their swimmers right through to the touch which went against Dan by under 2/10^ths of a second.

Both Christina Stenson and Tom Skingsley tried so very hard in their respective 11/under 50m freestyle races. Both found the opposition a little stronger and more experienced and each had to settle for 4^th place.

Georgia Shaw and Johnny Congdon got the Whales back on track with two perfect performances in the 13/under 100m freestyle events. Georgia took an early advantage in her race to lead by 1.5 seconds at 50m, although the girl inside did make some headway Georgia was far too strong and held on to win by a second. Johnny’s fine form continued with a powerful display in the boy’s race, when he extended his 5 second halfway advantage to win by over 7 seconds.

Kirsty Forbes race in the 15/under 100m breaststroke was dominated by the girl representing Bishop Stortford, trailing by just over a second at 50m her race was with the girl inside her from Hemel H whom she trailed by 3/10^ths, over the next 50m she battled vainly to draw level as the other girl worked as hard to pull away, eventually Kirsty started making progress and nearly drew level but finally ran out of pool as the Hemel girl took 2^nd place by just 1/10^th of a second. Tom Bircham faired slightly better in his efforts over the same distance, a great start had him leading the field all of the way to 75m when the lad from Bishop S drew level, unfortunately for Tom the other lad had just enough strength left to pull away and beat Tom by under half a second.

Laura Andrews had a great battle with the girl representing Hemel H to decide second a third places. Both turned at 25m level, Laura then opened a marginal lead at half distance, the girl from Hemel fought back to draw level again at 75m but did not reckon on Laura’s determination which kicked in over the final 10m to take 2^nd place by over half a second. 16 year old Ben Clifford-Stephenson was pumped up for his race when he saw the older men he was up against, an electric start by Ben must have had them worried when he turned at 50m half a length up and in a new personal best time, but in the end he probably went a little too soon and faded in the final 15m to finish fourth.

In the final eight events the relay squads took over proceedings and the decibel levels rose even higher. The 11/under girls 4 x 50m Medley team were always in the first two positions. Heather Wilson handed over from the backstroke leg to Jodie Momodu for the fly just in second place, Jodie put the record straight with a mighty 50m fly to give Molly Scott a clear lead on the breaststroke. For the Whales to keep a strong Bishop S quartet at bay it was necessary for Molly to give Christina Stenson approx a 5 second lead for the final freestyle leg. Molly increased the lead but would 4 seconds do it, Christina set off shortly pursued by Bishop S girl who started to make headway immediately, as the girl closed the gap Christina must have sensed her presence and responded magnificently to re-establish a lead that saw her home by 1.5 seconds. The boys of Toby Andrews, Sam Sparks, Tom Webb and Tom Skingsley battled all the way with the boys from Bishop S swapping the lead 4 times during the race, with the Killerwhales taking the early lead it was Bishop S who squeezed home 1^st.

The 13yr/under girls of Katinka Merchan, Georgia Shaw, Claire Wilson and Katie Miles had a battle royal for second place with the Hemel H team for the 4x50m freestyle. Whilst Hitchin seemed to be gone Killerwhales and Hemel were never more than half a second apart, with the lead changing almost at every alternating stroke, both teams went hard to open a gap on  each other and in the process nearly reeled in Hitchin who hung on to win with Killerwhales finishing 2^nd. The boys quartet of Lewis Clifford-Stephenson, Lee Parker, Johnny Congdon and Tom Webb had an equally tough duel with Hemel H, this time for 1^st and 2^nd places. After taking the lead on the first leg they went behind during the 2^nd, in the second half of the race the lads nearly clawed back the lead but Hemel H hung on to touch for 1^st place.

Robyn Beadel, Lauren Rouffe, Lauren Andrews and Henny Andrews competed for the girls 15/under 4x50m medley. After a fine backstroke start to shade out Bishop S, the girls fell behind during the fly, their efforts to redress the deficit over both the breaststroke and freestyle legs was valiant but fell slightly short having to settle for second. The boys quartet were not so unlucky, after regaining the lead early during the butterfly leg the boys of Dan Bleach, Dean Smith, Tom Bircham and James Shelley pulled away from the others to win by nearly 5 seconds.

In a novel final two races a sextuplet team (6 swimmers) of Ladies and then Men competed in a 6x50m freestyle replay. The girls team consisting of Lauren Andrews, Lauren Rouffe, Kirsty Forbes, Janine Rayner and sisters Laura and Henny Andrews were dominant throughout and won in fine style. The boys team of Dan Hime, David Haynes, Ben Clifford-Stephenson, Stephen Dawkins, Dean Smith and James Shelley were equally as dominant however their emphatic win was adjudged to include a faulty change over and the team disqualified.