The dual registered Thurrock Swimming Club youngster had a winning weekend by securing his first National qualifying time of the season in the 200 backstroke (2.11.93).

The PB and long course qualifying time gives Matt the opportunity to race at the Youth National Championships to be held in the Summer at the International Pool, Ponds Forge in Sheffield. There he will rub shoulders with other Youth swimmers from all over the country.

To further make his weekend a “win win for Winnell”, he picked up podium places and Bronze medals in both the 200 fly and 400 IM. So all in all a good weekend.

Mixed Senior Team

Thurrock LTC have now joined the Brentwood League (midweek) and played their first Mixed Doubles match against Writtle. Thurrock drew 4-4. Thurrock team members Kathryn Westcott and Terry Morgan lost both their matches although the team had suffered with injuries, whilst Diane Morgan and Gavin McAlear won both thier matches. The following week our Mixed team played Hutton and Shenfield. Thurrock drew 4-4. Mia Lan and Terry Morgan lost their matches but was a very close match. It was Mia’s first experience in the mixed team and she played a fantastic match. Diane Morgan and Danny Svendsden won both their matches.

Mens Senior Tennis

Thurrock Mens II won their first match of the summer season in Essex League against DL Basildon. The score was 7-3. Teams were brother Jason and Darren Cole and Jack Lloyd (Capt) and Danny Svendsen.

Ladies Senior Tennis

After finishing joint 2nd in ther Essex Winter League the ladies team got off to a fantastic start beating Danbury at home 7-3. Teams were Diane Morgan (Capt) and Janice McAlear and Amy Beadle and Denver.

In additions to the Essex and Brentwood leagues, the Thurrock LTC teams will also be participating in the Southend and District singles, doubles and mixed senior and veterans leagues. If anyone is interested in playing for the teams or wants to enjoy the social aspect of the club please contact Jenny Hurly 01375 374623 or Terry Morgan 0797 650 2393.

A spokesperson said: “We have a website for further info www.thurrockltc.co.uk including coaching facilities for all standards.

“Finally we will again be operating a summer school at the club throughout the summer holidays. This follows success from previous years and we look forward to welcoming anyone interested in taking up tennis. Follow the website for dates and info.

A GREAT entry of close to 60 National Bangers competed at Arena Essex on Sunday, despite the attraction of the World Final for the 2 Litre class in the Midlands.

It was obvious that much of the action was going to centre around the warring Cream Team and the Gladiators, as both brought an army with them. The Gladiators headed by the recently returned Phil Smith and the Cream Team entry rounded up by Nathan Roberts.

It was apt that Smith and Roberts came to blows in the first heat with Roberts striking first on a slowing Smith, although Smith managed to back him into the wall, allowing Craig Oliver to get in a revenge shot. Jordan Cumming took the win, his first of the season.

Heat two was where the warring took a serious turn for the worse with Andrew “Puddy” Milner getting run into the fence and then trashed by Jamie Harding before Bobby Wilmer steamed in a lap later. The heavy latter impact knocked Milner out and resulted in some delay as he was safely extracted and rushed to hospital, where he remains with a fracture to the base of his spine and broken pelvis.

It was a subdued atmosphere as the consolation gridded, but as the green flag flew it was business as usual with Jack King getting some big damage from Chris Walsh and Marcus Sprawling. This was one of the quieter races on the day although Billy King followed Mark Munson in the fence at the end, as Dave Barwick motored to the win.

The final saw Luke Hardy spun up onto the inner kerbs in the early laps where he lay stranded until a wayward Ricky Hutton knocked him clear. In fact Hutton was the star of this race, continually slowing to a stop on the pit bend and taking damage from several members of the Gladiator team. His badly crabbing car would do one lap and then repeat the process until it could barely move no more!

Alfie Lee won the final, his third straight final win. A feat not many can match in Arena Essex’s history. Jack Tuffen won two races during the afternoon which will help move him up the points chart, many of his rivals having not such a successful afternoon.

The Destruction Derby was an apt end with Nathan Roberts, Jamie Harding and Darryl Theedom  continually pounding anything painted in the traditional Gladiator whitewash. Matthew Young and Jamie Batchelor looked strong but Harding managed to outlast them all, removing a wheel from Young’s car to take a classy victory.

It looked all set for a Matt Mates whitewash in the Stock Rod formula as he romped to victory in heat one from his advantageous grid position. However his lead in heat two was cut when a big pile up on turns one and two left Paul Haralambou stranded. This closed the field up and David Burton was able to get past for the win. Burton knew he had to move fast to beat Mates in the final but a brave dive around the outside of Jamie Lee-Potter on the first bend, just failed to reap benefits and instead he spent a little longer getting through the pack, Richard Haines actually getting under Burton for second place as Mates took the win. The allcomers race saw Haines victorious, slipping up the inside of Mates in the early laps.

The SuperBangers saw the honours split between Karl Douglas and Lee West. John Harris blew the engine on the Steve Davies car in the first race which saw a huge oil trail which caught out Louis Parker on the final lap, although he spun without damage. This turned out to be the best race of the day with Douglas just failing to dislodge West from the lead on the last corner.

The next action at Arena Essex is on Bank Holiday Monday with the National Bangers back in action along with the Lightning Rods and the Junior Mini Stox. Start time 1:30pm.

Results:

Kata Gold, Jack Lloyd, Bethany West, Matt Rixson, Ola Jedrzejczyk.

Kata Silver: Victoria Westcott, Sasha Edgeler, Ethan Neal Buckley, Jessica Jedrzejczyk.

Kata Bronze: Joe Rudder, Harry Hibbell.

Kumite Gold: Bethany West, Sasha Edgeler.

Kumite Silver: Matthew Rixson, Lewis Darby, Owen Dixie. Kumite Bronze: Deny Crawley.

Team Kata Gold: Danielle Ball, Sasha Edgeler, Joe Rudder.

Team Kata Silver: Ola Jedrzejczyk, Ethan Neal Buckley and Maddison Ball.

Competing against other Essex based swimming clubs, the borough team secured 17 individual championship titles, five Age group champions (James Speers, Gracie Mae Martin, Martine Tran, Conor Harrold, Sonny Ford) and amassed over 40 top three podium places reports the Thurrock Gazette.

Leading the way for TSC was James Speers who dominated the nine-year age group, claiming nine championship titles (50 Fly, 50 Breast, 50 Free, 50 back, 100 IM, 200 IM, 200 free, 200 fly, 200 breast), and a silver in the 200 back. Speers also recorded an event best time in the 50 free (32.47). The versatile youngster was also crowned top nine-year-old boy. Another TSC swimmer competing in their first County Championships was Gracie Mae Martin, nine.

She was also in fine form winning gold in the 200 back, silvers in the 50 breast, 200IM, 100IM to add to four bronze medals in the 50 free, 200 fly, 200 breast and 200 free.

Thurrock’s nine-years-old were not finished though with other fine performances including a silver and double bronze for Louis Morris in the 50 back, 200 free and 50 free respectively. Louis went on to record four more top eight finishes, as did James Edgings who secured a hat-trick of top eight finishes in the 50 fly, 50 free and 200IM.

Jack Conroy completed the list of nine-year- old swimmers who made top eight finishes with a seventh in the final of the 50 back. More medals and top eight placings followed in the 10-year age group with Callum Bazella, Eden Astbury and Mia Fursedonne all in form.

Callum swam to silvers in the 400 free and 200 back and followed up with a 50 back bronze. He also secured top eight finishes in a further six events, while the speedy Mia and Eden finished seventh and eighth respectively in the 50 back and 50 free. Making a big splash in the 11 year age group was Martine Tran. Martine was crowned triple Essex Champion, winning titles in the 50 free, 50 fly and 100 back to add to silver in the 50 back. Martine was supported in the 11-year-age group by Sunny Renoldi-Outen and Lewis Cutting. Sunny swam to bronze in the 50 breast, while Lewis recorded top 8 finishes in the 50 fly, 50 back, 100, 200 and 400IM.

More medals were secured in the 12-year age group, with Imagine Stuart scoring a hat trick of bronze medal swims in the 200 fly, 100 back and 400 IM. Also recording notable swims were Luke Crofts who swam to top eight finishes in five events, including a fourth place finish in the 50 fly, Jack Williams with two top eight finishes and Azar Aitmarri who finished seventh in the 200 free.

The 12-year-old line up was completed by Georgia Hobson who missed out on bronze in the 100 fly but secured 7th in the 400 free.

Andrew Martindale and Louis Ridgway competing in the 13-year age category won no less than six medals between them. Freestyle specialist Louis took bronze medals in the 200 and 400 free and just missed out on third in the 100 free.

Meanwhile the impressive Andrew delivered a silver in the 200 fly, bronze in the 200 back, 200 and 400 IM.

Thurrock senior 16-year-old Rebecca Hayes claimed silver in the 400IM, while the recently departed quartet of Conor Harrold, Sonny Ford, Gareth Hawkins and James Day also delivered. Day claimed five top eight finishes, Hawkins claimed a fifth finish in the 100 back event, while Ford was crowned 17 and over 200 fly champ and also bagged fourth place finish in the 100 event. The impressive Conor Harrold swam to a hat-trick of titles in the 50, 100 and 200 back, silvers in the 200IM, 50 and 100 fly and 100 free bronze. Conor recorded event best in the 200 back (2:03) and was crowned top Essex boy.

Emma Ludkins, 10, brother Tommy, 9 from South Ockendon and Adam Baglin, 10 from Chelmsford, beat over 20 other competitors in the 4th Kyu and below junior division for kata (forms) to secure first, second and third placings. In addition to this, Emma & Tommy also secured additional 2nd and 3rd placings in their own separate girls and boys kumite (sparring) divisions.

Chief instructor of Seitou Ryu Karate Sensei Richard Hang Hong from Wickford said “They have all worked incredibly hard and its great to see it pay off at events such as these. The team spirit in the squad is fantastic, and special mention must be made of our youngest and newest member Megan Homer, who at just 8 years old won her first trophy for kumite today. She only started competing last month and this was only her second time in a tournament so this was quite an achievement for her. Her parents who were watching the entire day have been very encouraging and supportive and I’m sure they are extremely proud of her success too.”

The rest of the 12 strong squad kept up the good work and brought home 15 trophies in total. Richard Hang Hong won Bronze in the Men’s Black Belt Kata, following straight into the Mixed Open Black Belt Kata event and narrowly missed out on Gold but secured a Silver trophy. Fellow Wickford students Zoe Nolan (11yrs) and Connor Frost (12yrs) both whom had just graded to brown belt in March, won Bronze and Silver in their respective kata and kumite divisions. Chelmsford’s Martin Lawrence, 2nd Dan won Bronze in the men’s -75kg kumite, as well as winning Gold in Team Kata with Samuel Parker (Tilbury) and Sensei Richard. 16 year old black belt Jade Green from South Ockendon also had success with a Bronze win for Kata.

Classes in Seitou Ryu Karate run all year across Chelmsford, Wickford, South Ockendon and Grays. It is suitable for everyone from 5 years old upwards, with separate classes for all ages and abilities. For more information about classes Sensei Richard on 07899 827476, email richard@seitouryukarate.com or visit the club website www.seitouryukarate.com

It was a fairly gentle start to the meeting, with the entry split into two for the opening heats. Spedeworth visitor Alec Savage and Scott Cornish took the wins whilst each bend did attract some action with the pit bend seeing the destruction of the Ford Focus of Pete Bristow, courtesy of Jason Jackson, whilst turn one saw a heavy exchange as Jim Harding run in Andrew Milner, Harding then getting destroyed by Liam Hard, Hard in turn getting comprehensively finished off by hits from Nathan Roberts and Ricky Hutton. Hard’s debut at Arena being shortlived but enjoyable.

Milner found himself in the wars in the consolation, first getting a big hit from Anthony Kirk, then from Nathan Roberts before Kirk took another lap run up to destroy him with another heavy hit which left Kirk open to an accidental hit from Nick Andrews, which left Kirk in trouble, although he was ultimately able to climb out of his car under his own steam. Ricky Korpiela booked himself a place in the final with the win.

Dutch racer, Justin Kappert, showed admirable courage in the final, a sequence of hits left him battling his own car as it slewed sideways all over the track with a wobbly wheel, but he kept on going for a good while until attacks from the Korpiela brothers, Ricky and Paul, effectively finished him off. As Alfie Lee led the way all eyes were on a superb battle between team mates Paul Whiteman and Jason Jackson a little further down the order. Each took it in turns to knock each other wide on each bend and it was a great battle all the way to the flag. They passed the line alongside each other before Jackson pulled back and turned Whiteman into the fence, perhaps indicating that he didn’t appreciate the battle quite as much as Whiteman had.

Jack Tuffen won the allcomers race before the Destruction Derby kicked off with some heavy impacts. Darren Haines entertained by taking some high speed trips along the armco before succumbing to hits from Cornish and Lewis Barber. Paul Korpiela looked to have finished off Jackson on the home straight with a bit hit but Cornish destroyed Korpiela with an even bigger impact and then released his team mate, Jackson. Jackson was subsequently able to finish off Cornish for the win.

A heat and Final win for Paul Hunter in the Stock Rods grabbed the headlines, but the race of the day was undoubtedly the Helter Skelter allcomers race which saw Gary Hicks lead all the way until the last lap when he was tagged into a spin by Spedeworth visitor Lee Ribbans. As the pack scattered on either side of the spun Hicks car, it was a mad dash to the flag and it was Darren Clements who got their first with Ribbans attracting a disqualification.

Karl Douglas dominated the SuperBangers class, winning all four races with ease.

Sam is a mixed martial arts fighter and he is making his way up the rankings.

YT spoke to Sam about his career to date and the benefits of being sponsored by Cedar Hall Clinic.

Ashley Birkin won both heats and the final in the Lightning Rods but his final victory was very hard fought indeed. A small grid of cars it may have been but everyone on it seemed to have exactly the same pace which made it a very strategic battle indeed. Birkin stuck rigidly to the inside line allowing car after car to try its luck around the outside. Richard Warner, Adam Eyles, Gary Greenland and Chris Reeve all had turns with the latter probably coming closest to overhauling Birkin, but as each challenger faded, they found themselves railroaded to the back of the pack with someone else left to take up the cudgels. At the flag it was Anthony Lawrence in Birkins tyre tracks, the erstwhile points leader choosing to play it safe throughout the race, rarely stepping into the outside line.

A delighted Lee Johnson won the first heat in the Rookie Bangers before getting a bit more involved in the action of heat two rolling over the car of Alfie Rye, bringing the race to a halt. At the restart Ron Hammond and Anthony Kirk played a bit of cat and mouse before Dan Reid came along and destroyed Kirk with a stonking hit. Wayne Londors won the race. The ladies found themselves in trouble in the final with stoppages first for Sue Acourt, who got a heavy hit in the side from Jack Stonely and then a heavy frontal impact for Paige Ramsden. From the restart Billy Joe Sandford received a heavy hit from Mason Clark and then the rest of the race was all about Darren Mouser who was using his crippled car to cause as much chaos as possible. David Cheeseman took the win. The Destruction Derby saw Mouser and Reid finish each other off as Clark went in hard on Robert Knight, who had been entertaining all afternoon. Knight continued and went up on two wheels as he hit Danny Londors and then finished off himself and Ron Hammond. Wayne and Danny Londors then battled with Sandford with the latter eventually getting the verdict.

Having already shared the heat wins with Ricky Walker, Paul Hunter hit the front in the early stages of the final, but he sent Alex Martin spinning on turn one which attracted him a warning flag. Richard Haines quickly made it onto Hunter’s tail, breaking the lap record for the class in his pursuit. Haines wasn’t too interested about actually passing Hunter as he knew that the Vauxhall Nova racer would be docked several places in the final result for the earlier contact. However as the pack got ever closer to him he began to make an attempt at an outside pass. The two cars ran side by side for several laps until Hunter ran wide with two laps to go, taking Haines with him and allowing Walker a gap up the inside. With Walker on the inside, Hunter on the outside and Haines in the middle, Paul Haralambou also muscled in on the scene but found himself turfed out of the lead pack as they all battled for track space in turn three. Walker just managed to fend off Haines on the line for the win by a matter of inches. Haines was to get some compensation by surviving a sideways moment in the allcomers race, courtesy of Hunter, to run out a dominant victor.

The National Bangers provided more racing than wrecking on this occasion and it was the usual faces that dominated the trophies. Jason Jackson, Jack Tuffen and Dean Goodearl won the heats with Paul Whiteman once again coming good in the final despite a punt or two from a team mate along the way. The battling factions of the Cream Team and the Gladiators only had a couple of representatives each and they came to blows with the pick of the crashes dished out by Ricky Hutton, who followed Lewis Price hard into the turn three armco. Amazingly both the apparently wrecked Gladiators were repaired for the Destruction Derby where they were amongst the last cars running, although ultimately the contest came down to a series of head ons between Danny Londors and Alfie Lee, the verdict eventually going to the former.

In a subdued start to the season for the SuperBanger formula, Lee West looked on course for a clean sweep of wins until gearbox trouble prevented him from winning his fourth race of the day. His earlier victories were scored in a dominant fashion with his closest rival in 2012, Brian Jarvis strangely off the pace. Karl Douglas was able to take the allcomers win at the end of the day thanks to West’s troubles, a race which also saw Tommy Parker show some good pace.

The simmering feud between track champion Dan Newman and Reid Murray boiled over in the first heat with Newman getting Murray sideways on the back straight before Murray took Newman into the armco without letting off. Newman was unharmed and able to steal a march on his rival when he returned to the track, Murray disqualified from the remainder of the afternoon due to the illegal manoeuvre .

Visiting Incarace star, Ryan Polley had a good afternoon with second place in the final backed up by an allcomers race win, whilst Alfie Jones backed up his recent success at Wimbledon stadium with another heat win.

In the Lightning Rods the pace of Anthony Lawrence proved to be a revelation as he took three race wins during the afternoon, including the final. He seemed a class above the rest as he mastered the changeable weather conditions and was able to pass inside and outside on his way through from the back of the grid. New driver to the class, Ashley Birkin was the only other man to see the chequered flag during the afternoon. Birkin had been racking up the test mileage in preparation for his debut and his efforts paid off when he was able to fend off a closing Lawrence in heat two.

Track champion, Paul Whiteman won the final in the National Banger class. Nearly 40 cars was a good turnout for a domestic affair with a not entirely low key championship affair not too many miles away in London. Some meaty crashes were exchanged, not least as the brotherly pairing of Dale and Lee Hughes renewed acquaintances with Billy Page and Chris Mcauley, with a pair of big head on collisions between the protagonists. Heat wins went the way of Billy King, Lee Hughes and Jack Tuffen whilst the short lived Destruction Derby between Dave Palmer and Darren Haines was settled in the formers favour.

The Easter weekend sees a double header at Arena Essex. Easter Sunday 31st March sees the National Bangers headline with support from the Stock Rods and SuperBangers. Meanwhile, Bank Holiday Monday 1st April sees the return of the Rookie Bangers, with a large entry expected, along with the return of the Lightning Rods and Mini Stox. Start time for both meetings is 1:30pm.

Club members are delighted with the result and really appreciate the support of Veoila Mardyke Trust in their efforts to keep their buildings and green attractive and well maintained.

Phoenix nominated The Danny Green Fund as they only charity to support as Danny was a member of the club since he was five and achieved his Black Belt 1st Dan with Phoenix.

Chris and Lisa Green the parents of Danny were there to support everyone and we handed over the £500 and they really enjoyed watching the competition and thanked everyone who took the time out to support their Charity.

If anyone is interested in supporting The Danny Green Fund please visit the website www.thedannygreenfund.org.uk or see facebook/TheDannygreenfund.

As this is an important but very small charity that wants to ensure that everyone is aware of the symptoms of Brain Tumours as BT is the biggest cancer killer of children. Registered Charity number 1150334. As a local community we have seen a wonderful response to this charity and hope that others will come forward to raise funds with us.