National Junior Para Swimming Competition
Sunderland, 14th March 2020
Hoddesdon Swimming Club’s junior para swimmers travelled to Sunderland to compete in the National Junior Swimming Competition which was held over the weekend of 14-15th March 2020.
Disability Head Coach Janet Warrington said “as the coronavirus was heading towards ‘lock-down’ we were uncertain whether this competition would continue, I am glad it did, both swimmers swam brilliantly performing some fantastic personal best times.”
“It was a pleasure to take Coach Eleanor Short with us so that she could experience a National Para Swimming Competition as part of her personal development as a coach.”
Louise Storey, classified S9, qualified for four races and swam a 4 seconds personal best time in the 100m Freestyle (01:35.81) in the morning session. In the afternoon session she swam the 50m Freestyle in a pb time of 43.05 and the 100m Breaststroke in a pb time of 02:07.55, but was subsequently disqualified. Louise finished with the 100m Backstroke, just off her pb, swimming in a time of 01:49.50.
Marlon Solomon, who has Cerebral Palsy and is classified S8, had to arrive early on the Friday for reclassification and we are pleased to report he has remained the same classification and will be able to continue to compete in para and disability swimming Events. Marlon qualified for two races in his own right, however he also had to swim his less favoured event the 100m breaststroke as part of his reclassification process.
Marlon smashed 7 seconds off his pb for the 50m Freestyle (49.22) and 9 seconds off his pb for the 100m Backstroke (1:53.46). Marlon swam the 100m Breaststroke in a pb time of 2:47.37 but unfortunately, like Louise, was disqualified.
Coach Eleanor said “I think both swimmers swam amazingly. This weekend was a really valuable experience for me and I really enjoyed it. Thank you for taking me and giving me this opportunity.”
Special Olympics Eastern Regional Swimming Competition
7th March 2020
Special Olympics East Herts hosted their 5th Spring SOGB Eastern Regional Swimming Competition at The Herts Sports Village in Hatfield on Saturday evening 7th March 2020. Event organiser Janet Warrington said “we were so lucky that we were able to let this event go ahead. It was one of the last regional competitions to be hosted before all competitions and training were cancelled until further notice because of COVID-19.
This particular competition attracts Special Olympics clubs from all over the UK (Basingstoke, Cheshire, Enfield, Hastings & Rother, Norfolk, Orpington, Peterborough, Plymouth, St. Albans, Wycombe as well as our own members who live in the East Herts and Borough of Broxbourne. It was a special evening and I would have hated having to cancel or postpone it.”
With a total number of 116 athletes entering the completion, SO East Herts had fourteen members who brought home a total of seven Gold, four Silver, seven Bronze medals, five 4th place, one 6th place and two 7thplace ribbons and one MER Gold ribbon which is awarded to an athlete who has ‘smashed’ their personal best time.
Jacob Reeves who has returned to competitive swimming following a major operation on his spine absolutely smashed his personal best time in the 50m Free and was awarded the MER Gold ribbon he also won the Gold medal in the 25m backstroke.
Darcie Crick won the Gold medal in the 25m freestyle and a Silver medal in the 25m breaststroke.
Philip Goodall won the Gold medal in the 25m freestyle and bronze medals in the 100m freestyle and 25m backstroke.
Jessica Aldridge won the Gold medal in the 25m freestyle and a bronze medal in the 25m backstroke.
Bruce Yang, the first person with Autism to swim the English Channel in 2018 as part of the Opening Ceremony Bruce was asked to recite the Athletes Oath:“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”Bruce won the Gold medal in the 50m freestyle and was awarded a 4th place ribbon for the 200m freestyle.
Thomas Naughton won the Gold medal in the 25m backstroke and was awarded the 4th place ribbon in the 50m freestyle.
Jack Smith won the Gold medal in the 50m freestyle and was awarded the 4th place ribbon in the 100m freestyle.
Ruby Codiroli won two Silver medals in the 100m freestyle and the 25m butterfly and was awarded the 5thplace ribbon for the 50m freestyle.
Laura Clark won the Silver medal in the 50m freestyle and was awarded the 4th place ribbon in the 25m breaststroke.
Wendy Saint won two Bronze medals in the 25m and 100m freestyle.
George Cooper competiting in his first swimming competition took home two Bronze medals in the 25m and 50m freestyle.
Marc Curtis was awarded the 5th place ribbon for the 100m freestyle, 6th for the 50m freestyle and 7th place for the 25m backstroke.
Ella Callaghan swimming in her first swimming competition was awarded the 4th place ribbon for the 50m freestyle and the 7th place for the 100m freestyle.
Henry Oakes also swimming in his first competition was awarded the 4th place ribbon for the 25m freestyle and 5th place for the 100m freestyle.
Full set of results can be found at Special Olympics East Herts
Janet Warrington Disability Head Coach for Hoddesdon Swimming Club and Special Olympics East Herts said “I am so proud. Well done to all of the swimmers who competed. Thank you to the clubs, coaches and parents who support this competition and to the volunteers from Swim England Hertfordshire, SO St. Albans, Hoddesdon SC, Amwell View School and various other volunteers who make the time, and some travel long distances, to help us put on this completion.
I would also like to thank SOGB, and in particular, Sam Wothers, who came along to watch and ended up being the lane end for Lane 5. Without all of the volunteers we cannot run these competitions. THANK YOU.
