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KILLERWHALES IN 'TIP-TOP' FORM AT ESSEX
Killerwhales Swimmers were in fine form in the first round events of the 2006 Essex Championships

Killerwhales were in tremendous form for the first events in this years 2006 Essex County ASA Championships and Age Group Competition, held at Blackshots Leisure Centre, Thurrock over the weekend 21^st & 22^nd January. Their breaststroke performances were awesome, eight swimmers qualifying from the heats to make their respective age group 50m finals with gold medals for Lewis Clifford-Stephenson (12 years); Jodie Momodu (11 years), who in qualifying set a new Championship record of 37.53, and Dean Smith who won his first ever County Title in the 14 years age group. Further success in the 50m breaststroke was also had by the Scott sisters who all qualified for their respective finals, Molly took 5^th place in the 11 years, Ellen was 6th in the 14 years age group and older sister Alice showed after a barren period she still knows how to compete by taking 4th in the 16yr/over. Henny Andrews swam well to claim 4^th place in the girls 15 yrs and Dan Hime took 5^th in the men’s 16+.

The 50m butterfly also produced a clutch of medals and top 6 finishes. Lewis underlined his potential for top boy honours winning his final in great style. Jodie also showed her all round potentials with a fine bronze medal. Gutsy Lauren Rouffe (14 years) qualified for her first ever County 50m Final and improved her position to take an excellent 5^th. Dean Smith was similarly delighted to take 5^th. Lauren Andrews (15 years) showed she still has the quality to make finals and finished well in 6^th place as did Kirsty Forbes in the competitive 16 year and over age group.

Katinka Merchan swam magnificently in the backstroke heats to qualify in 2^nd place for her first ever County Final. She swam even faster in the final but was just pipped to silver taking a memorable 13 year age group bronze medal. Kirsty Forbes swam very well setting a new best time to take silver medal. Dean Smith took the bronze in his age group and Lewis took six place.

In the freestyle races there was a bronze medal for Kirsty, Lewis took 4^th place and Jodie took sixth. Lauren Rouffe finished her heat in tied 6^th place, in a swim off against Meg Middleton to decide who would make the final. Lauren steamed through after a poor start, and in the final she just missed out on 5^th place taking 6^th.

In the relays the Girls 15 year and under the A Team quartet of Kirsty Forbes, Henny Andrews, Lauren Andrews and Lauren Rouffe swam well in both the 4x50m Medley and 4x50m Freestyle heats to qualify for the respective finals in which they twice took 4^th place in both events. The Men’s 16 year and over quartet of Steven Dawkins, Dan Hime, David Haynes and Ben Clifford-Stephenson qualified well for their 4x100m Medley final were they finished 4^th. The Ladies 16 year and over quartet of Kirsty Forbes, Henny Andrews, Laura Andrews and Lauren Andrews swam above their ranking to take 6^th place in both 4x100m Medley and 4x100m Freestyle events.

In the 50m freestyle their were new best times set by Toby Andrews (11 yrs) 19^th, Clair Wilson (25^th) Lee Parker (16) both 13 yr age group, Johnny Congdon (14^th) and Dean Smith (7^th) both 14 years, Tom Bircham and Adam Conway in the 15 yrs, and Dan Hime in the 16/over age group finishing 22.

New best times were achieved in the 50m fly by Toby Andrews (14^th), Tom Web in the 12 years age group, Katinka Merchan (8^th) and Lee Parker (11^th) in 13 yr, in the girls 14 yr age group Robyn Beadel (16^th) Kalei Andrews (24^th) and Rachel Green (29^th) all set PB’s as did Daniel Bleach also 14 yr and Julia Braybrooke who finished 17^th in the 16yr and over age group.

There were backstroke new best times for Heather Wilson (15^th) 11 year old, Georgia Shaw (13^th) in 13 yrs, Robyn Beadel (8^th) and Lauren Rouffe (9^th) and Daniel Bleach in the 14 years age groups, Tom Bircham and Daniel Hime in the 15 years and 16 years/over respectively.

In the breaststroke new best times were set by Katinka Merchan in the 13 years age group, Robyn Beadel (13^th) and Lauren Rouffe (11^th) in the 14 years age group, and Lauren Andrews, Katherine Walsh and Tom Bircham in the 15 years age groups.

see results sheet