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KILLERWHALES AT ESSEX LEAGUE
Killerwhales faced a test in Round 2 of Essex Div II League Meeting

Killerwhales hopes of emulating the victory of the first round were dashed before the event started with the withdrawal of some key swimmers due to illness, with the rest of the club competing in the Potter Bar Winter Open replacements could not be drafted meaning that some swimmers would have to swim up age groups. However in true Killerwhales spirit there were neither moans nor gripes from the swimmers just a concerted effort by all to give it their very best shot.

Victories on the night were in short supply but needless to say there were some remarkable swims. The first came in event 8 the boys u/15 100m breaststroke where Tom Bircham took a commanding lead after 30m and was never in danger of not winning. The men’s 4x1 length medley relay team were in fine form, Stephen Dawkins got the team off to a great backstroke start giving Dan Hime a half meter lead which he increase to nearly two meters at the end of the breaststroke. David Haynes then shot off liability with a resolute win in the butterfly to keep the lads 1.5m ahead as he handed to Ben Clifford-Stephenson to blast home the freestyle leg finishing in 55.79. Stephen Dawkins then proved his backstroke pedigree by winning his open section men’s 100m backstroke. Lewis Clifford-Stephenson was dominant in the u/13’s 50m breaststroke winning by nearly 4 seconds, he repeated his winning exploits in the 50m butterfly were he won by 3 clear meters. The boys u/15 4x50m medley relay team were all in terrific form, Dean Smith set the tone with an inspiring 50m backstroke, Tom Bircham continued in the lead for his two lengths of breaststroke handing to Dan Bleach who swam with fluent purpose for his 50m, Johnny Congdon new there would be a challenge but his current excellent form meant he was never really threatened. The quartet were equally dominant in the 4x50m freestyle which each boy in turn extending the lead Dan handed to Tom who then handed to Johnny, it was then left to Dean to bring the lads home in 1.51.48. Boys Captain Dan Hime took the maximum 6points for the Men’s 100m breaststroke with a display of controlled power. Lauren Andrews was victorious in the Ladies Open 100m freestyle, she went out hard over the first 50m and fought on gamely right down the last length, the expected surge came from her rivals but Lauren found that bit extra and held on over the final 10m to take 1^st place.

The girls and boys in the u/11 age group were up against stiff opposition but they acquitted themselves well. The 4x1 length freestyle relay team of Molly Sparks, Megan Little, Katie Thomas and Cassie Beadel finished just behind 4^th place. The same four competed again in the 4x1 length medley relay with Katie (backstroke), Cassie (breaststroke), Molly (butterfly) and Megan (front crawl) coming home in a deserved 4^th place. Molly swam in the individual 1 length fly and 50m freestyle, the butterfly saw her touched out into 5^th place but in the freestyle she hung when looking out of it to come through and finish in 4^th. Katie swam in the backstroke and Cassie in the breaststroke both giving it everything they had finishing in 5^th position. The boys individual races had Sean Houlihan swimming the 1 length fly, a great swim to 4^th place was not allowed by an eagle eyed judge who picked him up for incorrect arms. Jake Jobson suffered a similar fate when finishing third he was adjudged to have made a one handed touch. George Crow fought all the way to a great 4^th place in the 50m backstroke. Aiden Robinson just ran out of steam over the closing stages to finish in 5^th place. The same four boys swam in both the 4x1 length freestyle and medley relays. George, Jake, Sean and Aiden battled hard with the team from Becontree Bees but where edged out into 5^th place. George (back), Jake (breast), Sean (fly) and Aiden (free) faired better in the medley with all making significant contributions to overhaul the Bees team and finish in 4^th.

The under 13 years girls and boys performed well, as mentioned Lewis Clifford Stephenson won his two individual races. He combined with Toby Andrews (back) Lewis (breast), Lawrence Greenway (fly) and Tom Webb (front crawl) in a gripping 4x50m medley relay where they battled all the way with Runnymede for first place, Tom was just touched out in the closing stages with the boys finishing 2^nd just ahead of Romford Town. The boys combined again in the 4x50m freestyle relay Lewis, Lawrence, Toby and Tom were not able to catch an impressive Runneymede quartet but ably held off a challenge from Romford Town to finish second. Toby finished in 4^th place in his individual 50m backstroke, as did Tom in the 50m freestyle. The 11year old girls competing in the u/13 years 4x50m medley relay were Heather Wilson (back), Molly Scott (breast), Jodie Momodu (fly) and 9 year old Molly Scott were up against some stiff competition from Romford and Basildon who were out in front on their own, the girls hung on and finished a creditable 4^th place. The same four had the fate in the 4x50 freestyle relay finishing 4^th. Jodie took 4^th place in the 50m free and then finished in a marvellous 2^nd in the 50m butterfly. Heather Wilson swam to a fine 4^th place in the 50m backstroke as did Molly Scott in the 50m breaststroke.

The boys u/15 were in majestic form, as well as their victories in the relays and breaststroke, Dan Bleach was truly inspiring as he swam to second place in the 50m butterfly in a new best time of 30.77 beating his previous time by nearly 2 seconds. Dean Smith was also in great form beating his previous best time in the 100m backstroke by nearly 1.5 seconds whilst finishing 2^nd. Johnny Congdon not to be outdone also set a new best time in the 100m freestyle in finishing 3^rd. The girls u/15 were just beaten in the 4x50m medley relay when Katinka Merchan (back) Ellen Scott (breast) Robyn Beadel (fly) and Lauren Rouffe (free) finished in second place. The same four also competed in the 4x50m freestyle relay finishing in 4^th place.  The busy Lauren Rouffe who also swam up in the open age group swam to a very fine 2^nd place in the 100m freestyle, a feat that was emulated by Katinka in the 100m backstroke, Ellen secured 3^rd place in the 100m breaststroke and Robyn took fourth place in the 50m fly.

In the open age group the Ladies of Lauren Rouffe (back), Henny Andrews (breast), Laura Andrews (fly) were brought home to a fine second place by Lauren Andrews in the Ladies 4x1length medley relay. The same four ladies combined to take a gallant second in the 4x50m freestyle relay. With Lauren A winning the free there were some impressive performance also by Henny in the 100m breaststroke, Laura took 3^rd in the 50m fly and Lauren Rouffe a fine 2^nd place in the 100m backstroke. To add to the Men’s win in the individual breaststroke, backstroke and medley relay David Haynes was 3^rd in the 50m fly, Ben Clifford-Stephenson was also 3^rd in the 100m freestyle. The lads combined well in the 4x50m freestyle relay when Stephen Dawkins, Ben, David and Dan Hime were touched out by 0.15 sec into second place.

The final event the squadron relay typified the evening for the Killerwhales when the gallant effort in the 8x1 length relay saw them disqualified for a faulty take-over.

Well done to the winners Runneymede SC who were strong throughout the evening. Look forward to round 3 in a few weeks time.

Final Points Tally as follows:

1^st     Runneymede SC      217 points
2^nd    Basildon SC            202
3^rd     Romford Town        199
4^th     Killerwhales            188
5^th     Becontree Bees      160.

see results sheet