Warrington SC Festival Invitation Gala 28^th April 2013 Orford Neighbourhood Hub, Warrington

Halton SC took the opportunity to field two teams in the recent Warrington Swimming Club Festival Invitation Trophy Gala at the new Orford Pool in Warrington.

It proved to be a excellent afternoon’s swimming as the Halton teams took 1^st and 2^nd places overall in an exiting 7 team Gala to reclaim the Trophy. It was an exceptionally strong performance by both Halton Teams as they claimed 33 Individual 1^st Place Finishes between them and in 14 of those events captured a 1^st and 2^nd place finish.

In what was an outstanding club performance it would be unfair to single out individual swimmers so a big well done and thank you to the whole squad who took part.

Halton Squad:

Sam Clayton, Joshua Howard-Hughes, Daniel Brownlow, Ami Mannion, Jessie Stritch, Sam Craig, Ryan Sanders, James Williams, Ellie Jo Hughes, Leah Horabin, Megan Weigand, Grace Leather, Matty Sayle, Tom Craig, Joe Mannion, Owen Price, Sarah Roberts, Elanor Sims, Amy Steele, Thomas Roberts, Mason Inman, Eleanor Donald, Zahra Groves, Vicky Houghton, Mollie Stritch, Paddy Clegg, Courtney Price, Laura Gorry, Ali Steele. Taylor Tout, Ben Woodward, Jack Gallimore, Maisie Wellock, Cliodna Jennions, Lucy Harris, Emmie Brownlow, Dan Buckley, Reece Sumner, Richard Houghton, Maddie Lea, Sophie Patton, Skye Marsh, Naomi Petch, Will Woodward, Joseph Ware, Ben Lovell, Tom Atchison, Lizzie Bryce, Issy Winckles, Lauren Galligan, Lewis Perry, Jamie Catharell, Beth Reid, Ceris Breckell, Lisa Bazley, Sophie Cameron, Tom Patton, Ian Larsson, Erin Mitchell, Nikita Jackson.

 Overall Result:  1^st Halton SC Blue 306; 2^nd Halton SC Green 284; 3^rd Swinton ASC 225; 4^th Ashton Central SC 186; 5^th Warrington SC A 165; 6^th Newton Le Willows 151; 7^th Warrington SC B 41.

City of Manchester Aquatics Manchester Level 1 Long Course Open Meet 2013, 11^th - 12^th May , Manchester Aquatics Centre

Halton Swimmers were amongst the medals at the recent high quality City of Manchester Level 1 Long Course Open meet held at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

A number of Olympians and British International Swimmers were present as part of their warm up programme ahead of the forthcoming British Championships and for those Halton swimmers who took part it was a great experience to swim alongside Elizabeth Simmonds, Siobhan- Marie O’Connor, Chris Walker- Hebborn and Joe Roebuck amongst others.

Top Halton performer was 12 Year Old Will Woodward who picked up three medals with a brilliant Silver in the 50m Backstroke and two well deserved Bronze Medals for third place finishes in the 200m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle. Will also narrowly missed out on further medals in the 50m Breaststroke and 100m Breaststroke being just pipped in to 4^th Place in both events. To complete an excellent meet for Will he achieved personal best times in the 50m,100m & 200m Breaststroke, 50m & 200m Backstroke, 100m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley. Will reduced his 200m Breaststroke time by over  10 seconds.

13 Year Old Tom Craig picked up a Silver Medal for a superb swim in the 50m Breaststroke in a new personal best time. Nikita Jackson completed the Halton medal haul with an outstanding Bronze medal in the Girls 16 years 50m Breaststroke. Nikita also achieved a brilliant personal best time in the 100m Breaststroke in finishing 6^th.

Alison Steele also had an excellent meet with a new personal best time in the girls 14 years 100m Freestyle.

Well done all.

Crusader Swimming League - Division 3 Round 3 at Buxton 12^th May 2013

Halton consolidated 2^nd Position in the Crusader League Third Division with a strong display in the Round 3 Gala at Buxton Swimming and Fitness Centre on Sunday 12^th May 2013.

In an excellent all round team performance, Matty Sayle grabbed two individual wins in the Boys 12 & Under 50m Fly and 50m Backstroke events whilst Daniel Buckley followed suit with a double in the Boys 10 & Under 50m Breaststroke and 50m Backstroke. There were also superb individual wins for Lizzie Bryce (Girls 12 & Under 50m Fly), Ben Lovell (Boys 12 & Under 50m Freestyle), Richard Houghton (Boys 12 & Under 50m Breaststroke), Sam Craig (Boys 10 and Under 50m Freestyle) and Thomas Roberts (Boys Open 100m Freestyle).

The Boys 10 and under Relay team of Reece Sumner, Sam Craig,  Sam Clayton and Dan Buckley took both Medley and Free events in the age group as did the Girls 12 and under Relay team of Lizzie Bryce, Issy Winckles, Amy Steele, Zahra Groves and Ellie-jo Hughes. The Boys 12 and Under Relay Team of Ben Lovell, Matty Sayle, Richard Houghton, with Sam Craig and Dan Buckley swimming up an age group also won both their events. The Boys Open Medley Relay team of Paddy Clegg, Tom Craig, Thomas Roberts and Luke Nisted won their event as did the Boys 14 and Under Medley Relay Team of Joseph Ware, Lewis Perry, Tom Craig and Matty Sayle.

Personal Best times were achieved by Luke Nisted (Open 100m Individual Medley), Lizzie Bryce (12 & Under 50m Fly), Jessica Burton (10 & Under 50m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle), Cliodhna Jennions (10 & Under 50m Fly), Reece Sumner (10 & Under 50m Fly), Issy Winckles (14 & Under 50m Back), Richard Houghton (12 & Under 50m Breaststroke), Thomas Roberts (Open 100m Freestyle), Ellie - Jo Hughes (12 & Under 50m Backstroke), Lisa Bazley (Open 100m Breaststroke), Luke Nisted (Open 100m Breaststroke), Sam Craig (10 & Under 50m Freestyle), Emmie Brownlow (10 & Under 50m Backstroke), Dan Buckley (10 & Under 50m Backstroke), and Ben Lovell (12 & Under 50m Freestyle).

PP. Neil F

British Long Distance Swimming Association (BLDSA)

Pictured: Thomas & Sarah Roberts at the BLDSA St Mary’s Loch swim.

The Elise Brook Trophy Winner - Thomas Roberts - Halton SC 

Halton SC swimmer Thomas Roberts has picked up an outstanding achievement award from the British Long Distance Swimming Association at their recent annual awards ceremony. The awards were presented at the BLDSA Annual Dinner which was held at The Woodlands Hotel, Dundee, on Saturday 9th March 2013.

Thomas picked up the Elise Brook Trophy. This trophy is presented by the association to recognise an outstanding swim by a BLDSA member as a Junior during the year as an individual effort or within a championship without receiving an award from that championship.

The Citation for Thomas reads as follows:

For a great effort at St Mary’s Loch, thwarted by the weather, on the return leg, where the wind was a problem for swimmer and kayaker alike. Battling against the elements and pausing on several occasions to wait for his kayaker he was losing body heat and eventually had the sense to retire whilst still able to assist himself. A very mature decision by a young man, retiring for the safety of himself and his kayaker without complaint, especially as he had been beating most of the senior swimmers at this point. Not being deterred by this he is chomping at the bit for 2013.

Well Done Thomas

Pictured: the Elise Brook Trophy

Merseyside  & District Swimming League 2013 Division 1 Gala 4 at Crosby Leisure Centre 23^rd March 2013

Halton SC’s battle against relegation from the Merseyside and District Junior Swimming League 1^st Division suffered another blow with a 5^th Place Finish at the recent Round 4 gala at Crosby Leisure Centre.

Halton struggled throughout against tough competition from Everton SA, Garston SC, Prescot SC and home team Crosby SC and finished 5^th in the 5 team gala leaving the team 42 points adrift at the foot of the table with just the home gala to come at Kingsway in June.

Despite the disappointing overall team result there were some excellent individual efforts. Ellie Jo Hughes won the girls 25m Fly and took an excellent 2^nd in the 50m Freestyle. Tom Craig won the Boys 13 Years 50m Breaststroke and Craig Langley won the Open Boys 100m Freestyle. Craig also picked up 2^nd place in the 50m Fly event. James Flaherty claimed 2^nd place in the Boys Open 100m Breaststroke, Daniel Buckley was 2^nd in the Boys 11 years 50m Breaststroke and Thomas Roberts picked up two 2^nd place finishes in the Boys 15 years 50m Fly and 50m Freestyle.

The Boys Open Medley and Freestyle relay teams of Will Warburton, Craig Langley, Tom Patton, Luke Nisted and James Flaherty won both events.

There were personal best times for Dan Buckley (50m Breaststroke), Lizzie Bryce (50m Fly),  Matty Sayle (50m Fly and 50m Back), Ellie -Jo Hughes (50m Freestyle), Isobel Winckles (50m Backstroke), Will Woodward (50m Backstroke), Ceris Breckell (50m Breaststroke) and Craig Langley (50m Fly).

Crusader Swimming League 2013 Division 3 Round 2  

Halton’s home gala in the Crusader Swimming League Division 3 Round 2 on Saturday 23^rd March 2013 was cancelled due to the heavy snow fall. Despite Kingsway being open for business, the appalling weather meant that Buxton SC and Market Drayton SC were unable to travel.

An alternative date is being sought.

PP.  Neil F

EFDS National Youth Disability Swimming Championships 2013

Ponds Forge, Sheffield 3^rd March 2013

Halton’s GB Deaf swimmer, Luke Nisted, achieved a superb 6 medal haul at the recent National Youth Disability Championships at the Ponds Forges ITSC in Sheffield over the weekend of 2^nd and 3^rd March 2013.

Luke is currently in heavy training preparing for his first Deaflympics in Sofia, Bulgaria and those preparations appear to be on right on target as Luke picked up 4 Gold medals, a Silver and a Bronze. Luke achieved first place in the 50m and 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke and the 100m Individual Medley events. Luke set a new personal best of 1.05.68 in the 100m Backstroke lowering his previous time by 1.1 seconds. Other new personal best times followed as Luke took silver in the 200m Individual Medley and Bronze in the 100m Breaststroke. Well done Luke.

Pictured: Luke receiving one of his Gold Medals at Sheffield.

City of Birmingham Swimming Club Easter Open Meet

Stetchford Pool, Birmingham  29^th March 2013

Thomas Roberts took a superb Gold Medal and achieved another ASA North West Regional Youth Championship Qualifying time with an outstanding swim in the 1500m event at the City of Birmingham Easter Open Meet on Good Friday. Thomas reduced his previous best time for this event, achieved only a matter of weeks ago at the Liverpool and District Championships at Everton Park, by 45 seconds. An outstanding achievement. Top Stuff Tom.

Pictured: Thomas with his Gold medal at Birmingham.

AIB Tigers Swimming Club (Jersey) 4 Way Easter Meet

Les Quinnevais Sports Centre7^th April 2013

15 Year Old Halton Swimmer Laura Gorry took advantage of some splendid hospitality whilst on holiday in Jersey by swimming as a guest at the recent AIB Tigers Swimming Club annual 4 Way Easter Meet at the Les Quinnevais Sports Centre in the town of St Brelade on the Channel Island of Jersey.

Swimming as a guest meant that Laura was unable to claim any silverware but she had the satisfaction of knowing that she posted the fastest times in the 400 Individual Medley, 50m Breaststroke and 100m Backstroke events. In addition, Laura posted a 9 second personal best in the 400m IM and a 2 second PB in the 50m Breaststroke. Well done, Laura.

PP. Neil F

Cheshire County Swimming & Water Polo Association  2013 Championships

13 Year Old Tom Craig earned a superb Silver medal in taking second place in a stunning new personal best time in the 50m Breaststroke event at the recent Cheshire County Swimming Championships at Macclesfield whilst 12 Year old Will Woodward continued his fine form with a double bronze medal winning performance in the 200m Individual Medley and 50m Freestyle. Will recorded new personal best times in both events, lowering his 200m Medley time by over 5 seconds and produced another outstanding best time in the 50m Freestyle to go under 30 seconds for the first time.

In finishing 7^th in the boys 12 years overall individual championships, Will recorded a further 10 personal best times lowering his previous best time in every event entered. Will set new standards in the 400m Freestyle reducing his previous best time by almost 6 seconds, 50m Backstroke, 50m Fly, 50m Breaststroke, 100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke, 200m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 200m Backstroke again taking over 6 seconds off his previous best time. Will the finished the championships in excellent style in taking 5 seconds off his previous 100m Backstroke time.

Thomas Roberts had an outstanding championships finishing 6^th overall in the boys 15 years Individual rankings. Thomas produced 7 new personal best times in the 50m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle reducing his previous best time by 8 seconds, 400m Individual Medley with a new time 4 seconds lower, 100m Fly, 100m Freestyle, 200m Fly and 200m Freestyle. Thomas now has ASA North West Regional Youth Qualifying times in 5 events, 400m Freestyle, 200m Fly, 400m Individual Medley, 100m Freestyle and 1500m Freestyle.

10 Year old Daniel Buckley reduced his 200m Breaststroke time by almost 16 seconds in taking 4^th place and also took 2 seconds off his 50m Breaststroke time in securing 5^th place.

GB swimmer 16 year old Luke Nisted stepped up his preparations for the Deaflympics in Sofia, Bulgaria this summer with a new British Deaf Youth and Open record in the 200m Backstroke event reducing his previous best time by almost 3 seconds in finishing 6^th.

In addition, there were 3 new personal best times for Eleanor Donald in the Girls 13 Years 50m Fly, 50m Freestyle and 200m Freestyle events and also personal best performances from Alison Steele in the girls 14 Years 100m Freestyle and Sam Craig in the boys 10 Years 50m Breaststroke.

There were also fine individual performances at the championships from Amy Steele, Ceris Breckell and Nikita Jackson.

2013 Menai AA and B Grade meet - Bangor Swimming Pool

Halton sent a strong contingent to the Bangor Swimming Club Menai AA & B grade meet at the end of February.

Chloe Doolan picked up 3 medals at the event taking Gold for a superb 1^st place in the girls 14 Years 100m Backstroke. Chloe also took Silver in the 100m Breaststroke and Bronze in the 100m Fly events. Niamh Cullen also took home a deserved bronze medal for 3^rd place in the Girls 12 years 200m Individual Medley in a new personal best time. Niamh went on to achieve further personal best times in the 100m Breaststroke, 100m Backstroke, and 100m Freestyle events.

14 Year Old Lisa Bazley had an excellent meet with a series of new personal best times in the 100m Freestyle, 100m Fly and 200m Individual Medley lowering her best time by almost 22 seconds. Beth Reid also achieved a personal best time in the 100m Breaststroke and in a second outstanding performance Beth reduced her 100m Backstroke time by almost 12 seconds. Leah Horabin set new personal best times in the  girls 11 Years 100m Breaststroke and 100m Backstroke whilst 9 Year Old Taylor Tout produced two fine swims in the 50m Backstroke and 50m Breaststroke.

Pictured: Halton medallists from the Cheshire County Championships and Bangor Menaii meet.

 Neil F

Liverpool & District Swimming & Water Polo Association  2013 Age Group Championships

8 Gold Medals, 6 Silver, 8 Bronze and an outstanding 41 Personal Best times represented an excellent return for Halton swimmers from the recent 2013 Liverpool and District Swimming Championships held at Everton Park Sports Centre over the weekend of 2^nd & 3^rd February and 9^th & 10^th February 2013.

Will Woodward took the headlines again as he swept to a brilliant win in the 11 Years Boys Overall Individual Championships. Along the way, Will claimed 7 gold medals in the 200m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle, 50m Fly, 400m Freestyle, 200m Individual Medley and 50m Breaststroke whilst 3 Silver Medals followed in the 100m Fly, 100m Freestyle, and 100m Breaststroke. Will then took his medal tally to 11 as he earned a hard fought Bronze in the 200m Backstroke Event. There were also 4^th Place finishes for Will in the 50m Backstroke and 100m Backstroke just missing out on further medals by a finger tip in each case but with the consolation of achieving a commemorative pennant for a top eight finish. Apart from his  medal winning performances, Will set new short course Personal Best Times in the 200m Breaststroke, 100m Fly, 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke, 100m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle, 200m Individual Medley, 100m Breaststroke and 200m Backstroke. Particularly impressive was the 11 second reduction in his 400m Freestyle time. Will now has a full set of qualifying times for the ASA North West Regional Age Group Championships at Manchester Aquatics in June.

• Will is pictured with his Individual Championship Trophy and an impressive set of medals.
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16 Year Old GB Deaf Swimmer Luke Nisted continued his preparation for this summers’ Deaflympics as he picked up Halton’s other Gold medal of the Championships with an impressive first place in the 16 Years 100m Backstroke event. Luke completed a full set of medals in achieving an excellent silver medal in the 200m Backstroke and a Bronze for 100m Freestyle.

Another Stand Out performance saw Thomas Roberts capture a silver medal in the Boys 15 Years 1500m Freestyle event lowering his personal best time by almost 48 seconds in the process with the time being good enough to take 3^rd place in the Overall 1500m Championship event and earn Thomas a Bronze medal.

Thomas also achieved pennant awards for Top eight finishes in the 200m Breaststroke, finishing  8th in a new Personal best time; 100m Freestyle, with 7^th place in a new personal best time, 400m Freestyle, achieving 4^th in a new personal best time, and finally the 200 Individual Medley, coming home 6^th also in a new personal best time

• Thomas is pictured after his double medal winning performance in the 1500m Freestyle.

Lizzie Bryce picked up a brilliant Silver Medal for a 2^nd Place finish in the girls 11 Years 50m Fly lowering her previous best time by almost 5 seconds in the process. This was an outstanding achievement for Lizzie in her first Liverpool and District Championships.

16 Year Old Nikita Jackson put in a double bronze medal winning performance taking 3^rd Place in the 200m Individual Medley and 100m Breaststroke.

Whilst further Bronze medals were achieved by Ellie Jo Hughes in the Girls 11 Years 50m Fly; Daniel Buckley in the Boys 10 Years 50m Breaststroke in a new personal best time; Tom Craig in the Boys 13 Years 100m Breaststroke also in a new personal best time; whilst Tom Hough also claimed Bronze in the boys 16 Years 200m Breaststroke in an impressive new personal best time of 2.47.90 some 6 seconds inside his previous record for this event.

There were also commemorative pennant awards for top eight finishes in each event and these went to: Daniel Buckley, (6^th - 200m Breaststroke, 5^th - 200m Freestyle), Nikita Jackson (5^th - 100m Freestyle), Eleanor Donald (5^th  - 400m Freestyle), Ellie Jo Hughes (6^th - 50m Breaststroke, 5^th -100m Individual Medley, 7^th  - 50m Freestyle, and 5^th -50m Backstroke), Tom Craig (7^th - 100m Freestyle), Tom Hough (8^th - 100m Freestyle, 4^th 200m Individual Medley, and 5^th - 100m Breaststroke), Taylor Tout (7^th - 50m Breaststroke), and Sam Craig (8^th - 50m Breaststroke).

Throughout the championships swimmers clocked new Personal Best Times and these were achieved by: Daniel Buckley (200m Breaststroke, 200m Individual Medley and 200m Freestyle - 27 seconds inside his previous best time), Eleanor Donald (100m Fly, 200m Individual Medley, 100m 200m and 400m Freestyle - some 27 seconds inside her previous best time for this event), Sam Craig (50m Freestyle), Ellie Jo Hughes (50m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle and 200 Individual Medley - some 10 seconds inside her previous best), Ceris Breckell (100m Breaststroke), Tom Craig (100m Freestyle),  Alison Steele (100m Fly, 100m Backstroke and 200m Freestyle), Sam Clayton (50m Breaststroke), and Tom Hough (200m Individual Medley).

There were also excellent individual performances from Laura Gorry and Chloe Doolan whilst Morgan Grady, Leanne Clarke, Ellie Newby, Sarah Lou Banner and Liam Sheeran had fine performances as part of the Open Medley and Free team Relay events.

• Pictured: Halton SC Junior Swimmers with their awards from the Liverpool and District Swimming Championships.
• 

Well done to all who took part an excellent set of results.

Higher quality photo images are available if required.

PP.  Neil F

Staffordshire ASA Junior Inter County Invitation Swimming Gala 2013 - Fenton Manor, Stoke on Trent

11 Year Old Halton swimmer Will Woodward represented Cheshire County Swimming & Water Polo Association at the Staffordshire ASA Junior Inter County Swimming Gala at Fenton Manor complex in Stoke On Trent on Sunday 3^rd February 2013. Swimming for Cheshire against Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Leicestershire Will did himself and Halton proud in winning a superb Bronze medal for the 50m Freestyle event in 30.4- just outside his personal best time.

Will was also selected in the 4 x 50m Medley and Freestyle team relays and helped Cheshire into Second place overall at the end of the Gala.

Gala Result:

1^st Warwickshire ASA 197 Points, 2^nd Cheshire ASA 163 Points, 3^rd Leicestershire ASA 134 Points, 4^th Worcestershire ASA 133 Points, 5^th Staffordshire ASA 129 Points.

Warrington Dolphins Long Distance Swimming Championships (1500m) 2013

Halton sent a strong team to the Warrington Dolphins 1500m Championships held at the Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub on Saturday 2^nd February 2013.

They achieved a superb set of results claiming the Boys Junior Championship, Junior Girls Championship and the mixed Junior 12 and under Championship.

15 Year Old Thomas Roberts clinchéd the Junior Boys Championship with an excellent swim in coming home in just under 19 minutes and warming up nicely for the Liverpool ad District Swimming Championships. A super swim by 13 Year Old Joe Mannion earned a second place finish and a 1-2 for Halton in this event. Joe finished in just under 26 minutes. A brilliant achievement.

Halton then went one better in the Junior Girls Championship with Thomas’ sister, 14 Year Old Sarah Roberts claiming the Junior girls Championship in a superb personal best time of 21 minutes 50 seconds whilst Halton also took second place through 15 Year Old Lisa Bazley who finished in 24 minutes 16 seconds whilst third place was grabbed by 12 Year Old Zahra Groves in 24 minutes 48 seconds. An excellent 1-2-3 for Halton.

Finishing off an excellent evening 10 Year Old Ami Lee Mannion was first home in the mixed junior 12 Years an Under event. Ami finished the 750m course in 12 minutes 41 seconds a full minute ahead of the second placed swimmer.

Joe and Amy

Also Pictured: Thomas and Sarah Roberts collecting their Championship awards at the Warrington Dolphins event.

Well done all. PP. Neil F