The journey was definitely well worth it for the talented 11 year old who not only claimed two Gold medals in the 50m and 100m freestyle long course events, but also broke and recorded National records for his age group. Historical record times were 44.06 and 1.57.52 until Kieron broke them both with 39.32 and 1.28.49 respectively.
The final saw a full contact win from Darren Mouser, who despatched several along the way, including David Newman who had a torrid time along the home straight, getting hit several times as he spun in traffic. Jamie Webb lead for much of the distance but eventually went out with a big bang on turn one along with a handful of other cars. As Mouser took the flag his front tyre shredded, with pieces of rubber getting flung into the air. If the race was a lap longer, Grant Underhill would have had the win, as it was he had to settle for second with Paul Harrison third.
THURROCK Swimming Club held their yearly Regional Qualifier recently with over 40 of their squad swimmers taking part. What a difference a year makes from the last Regional Qualifier in May 2012, seeing swimmers step up to the mark with an abundance of PB's and medal podium places.
Georgia, a Thurrock Swimming Club National Age Group swimmer, competed in the gala representing East Anglia, previously representing St Johns School, Billericay in the heats back in November.
On a day packed of events, Georgia competed in the 4 x 50m individual medley relay in which she swam the butterfly leg and the 4 x 50m freestyle relay. Georgia’s individual races were the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly.
YOUTH swimmer Matt Winnell had a successful East Region Youth Championships in Luton over Bank Holiday weekend. 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).
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.
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 Grays Yamaguchi Goju club did well at the recent SRK Spring open Tournament at Gateway Academy, Tilbury, Richard Hang Hong the Tournament organiser was pleased to announce that he had record number of 250 students competing.
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.
THREE young students of local martial arts club Seitou Ryu Karate managed to win gold, silver and bronze medals in the AMA Southern Open Karate Championships held in Clacton-on-Sea on Sunday 14th April.
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.
A BRUTAL Destruction Derby capped a magnificent day at Arena Essex last Sunday as the National Bangers provided many a highlight. 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.
NEARLY all of the Cedar Hall Osteos sponsored sportsmen and women are track and field. One exception is local Stanford boy Sam Dixon. Sam is a mixed martial arts fighter and he is making his way up the rankings.
THE Mini Stox provided the race of the day in their final at Arena Essex. Double heat winner, Harry Steward was turned left by Tommy Aylward at the end of the home straight, an incident that saw Steward spin into Kayleigh Glover, Glover in turn collecting Aylward and sending him for a hard impact with the fence. Oil on turn four caused last meetings dominant force, Lauren Overy, to glance off the barrier bringing her race to a finish. Ryan Polley spun as he attacked the back bumper of Jones but he fought his way to the front on the final lap.
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.
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.
