CHRISTMAS TRAINING TIMES

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  • Monday  23rd December: swimming as usual
  • Tuesday 24 December: Christmas Eve – No Swim
  • Wednesday 25th December: Christmas Day – No swim
  • Friday 27th December – swimming as usual
  • Saturday 28th December – Swimming as usual
  • Sunday 29th December – Swimming as usual
  • Monday 30th December – Swimming as usual
  • Tuesday 31st December: New Years Eve – No swim 
  • Wednesday 1st January: New years Day – No Swim
  • Friday 3rd Jan & onwards – Normal swimming resumes

HAT TRICK FOR JOE

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Joe strikes a hat trick of golds at Halloween gala

Joe Willimott. achieved a hat trick of golds for the North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club at  at a special Halloween junior gala at Dereham.

Joe made no mistakes when he dominated the 100 Individual Medley in his 11 year old age category by an outstanding 23 seconds margin in 1.42.86 and was the second fastest in all age groups combined for this event.  In the 50m butterfly he was second fastest again combined with 50.53 and in the 100m freestyle he scored 1.32.47 to win as fellow Viking. Finn Callaby took silver. Joe’s younger sister Emma, also had success when she took a bronze in the 50m backstroke with 49.59.

It was Finn and Lexie Parker, who earlier in the programme, got Vikings off to an excellent start by winning back to back golds. Finn  in the 50m backstroke on 48.94. and Lexie  in  the 100m butterfly with 1.56.05. The two swimmers went onto win another gold apiece.  Finn over 50m breatsroke  (57.26)  and Lexie in 100m backstroke with 1.41.61 respectively.

 

Isla Cartwright  took home four medals. The 12 year old’s best swim was undoubtedly her gold medal triumph when she won her Individual Medley by a 2 second margin in a close encounter. She complete the 100m in 1.39.83, reducing her personal best time by 11 seconds.

Her 9 year old , younger twin sisters were also successful in the 50m breststroke. Only hundredths of a second separated Tessa  getting silver in 1:01.53 from Holly’s bronze. in 1:01.73; both of whom swam personal bests.

Zerif Gokman came away with two excellent bronze medals. The first was over 100m breaststroke finishing in 2.04.57 and then the  50m when she just missed a medal  in 56.77. However, in the 50m butterfly she came back to win her second bronze of the day in  45.21.

There was a silver lining for Leonardo Jones. He took three silvers, two of which came in the freestyle. In the 50m he came home in 41.20 and then in the 100m he improved his personal best by 6 seconds to finish in 1:39.39. His other silver was another 50m this time in breaststroke scoring 1:04.4.

 

Milly Edridge  had double golds to be proud of. In the 100m freestyle  she finished in  1.28.22,  improving her best time by 5 seconds. Then in the 100m backstroke, she improved her time by 11 seconds touching the pad in 1.36.47. Milly went on to win a Bronze in the 50m breaststroke with 52.91 – another personal best time. She was the fastest Vikings in the event as  the club fielded 11 swimmers all of whom recorded personal best times.

 

Darcie Lee also improved her 100m freestyle. Although she did not medal she improved her 100m freestyle time by 5 seconds when she finished fifth in 1:51.39 and just missed out on a medal when she finished 4th over 100 Individual medley in 1.51.39 again reducing her time by another 5 seconds.

 

Isla Haynes, aged 11,  made a good account of herself.  Isla took on 8 challenging events and secured a personal best in 7 races. In the 100m freestyle she went 1:32.45 improving by 4 seconds and then over the same distance in the backstroke she touched in 1:56.65 improving by 8 seconds

 

11 year old Lucy Fincher, who is coached by Mark Claxton at the Reef, made a positive contribution to the afternoon. Lucy recorded a personal best time in all her events namely the 50m freestyle when she took off 3 second in 45.72 and subsequently she came in the top 8 in all her races.

 

 

VIKINGS IN ICENI BATTLE

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VIKINGS IN ICENI BATTLE

 

Emily Morton came away with six gold medals at the gala when the team went to Dereham for the Iceni Gala in September

Her  time of 1:03.12 was  the fastest  time out of 118 competitors when she won the 100m freestyle.  Morton was on form again, when In the 50m freestyle, she, defeated 121 competitors to take her second gold breaking a minute in  29.23 – a split second ahead of fellow Viking Leah Harris who touched in 29.43. Leah had more success when she too came away with a gold in the 100 butterfly in 1.11.70.

 

Taking on the longer distances,, Emily was pushed all the way again and in an exciting finger tip finish, she hit the pad  in 2:18.5 when the dividing time again went into hundredths of a second over 200m freestyle

 

Her successes continued with two back to back golds the 100m (1.13) and 200mbackstroke ((02.37) respectively and concluded her programme winning the  50 butterfly (33.65)

 

In the juniors, Anna Turner also came away with  five  gold medals. The 10 year old swam very fast throughout and recorded a personal best on each outing.  Anna regarded her best swim was the 100m freestyle as she explained.

 

“I was really nervous to do my first race.  This is because I was up against a few 12 and a 13 year olds. Even though I was in the same race with them I still came first both in my heat and age group. In the race, I had a good start and lead until I touched first in 1:17.33, reducing my time by 5.51 seconds.”

 

There were other gold medal successes for Vikings. Sam Morton, club captain and Emily’s elder brother, in the 200m butterfly (2:41.0).

 

George and Zak Edridge  celebrated their 15th birthday over the gala week-end and had further reason to celebrate when they came home with 14 medals between them.

 

George won two back to back golds. His first success came over 200m freestyle when he came home in 2:20.52 and in the 100m butterfly he struck gold again with a 1:18.33. George had an outstanding gala claiming  five more consolation medals. Significantly his 200m Individual medley when he had to swim all four strokes in which he ably did, finishing in 2:54.51.  He was paired with brother Zak in the 50m breastsrtoke and won silver in 38.26 with Zak on 40.10 for bronze

 

However, fortunes were reversed in the 200m breaststroke when this time Zak was ahead of his brother in 3:10.64 achieving silver  with  George who scored 3:11.41 for bronze respectively. Zak had did a “double” in the backstroke events too. For the 50 he scored 35.61 claiming silver and over the 100m another  bronze in 1:18.93.

 

Their younger sister 11 year old Milly did not medal but made a significant improvements.  recorded  5 personal bests times out of 9.  There were two swims of significance which she excelled in. She reduced her time by 14 seconds finishing the 200m freestyle in 2:58.08 and it was freestyle again, this time over 100m when the margin of improvement was 4 seconds with 1:22.74.

 

Imogen Laws struck gold in the 100m butterfly in 1.30.62  and followed it up with a silver In the 200m Individual medley recording 3.06.53 and a bronze for the 100m freestyle going 1:17.03  respectively. At the conclusion a Viking coach said:

 

Grace Parker had double silver medals successes in the backstroke. In the 100m she improved her time by 8 seconds in 1:20.58 but in the 200m she improved by 20 seconds finishing with 2:55.69. The determined 12 year old competed in 11 out of 12 events events over the week end of competition which attracted teams from all Norfolk and beyond.

 

There was other medal success for Vikings In the 50m backstroke another 12 year old, Leonna Scott made the most of the 50m backstroke in 37.61 for Bronze and in the Seniors, Lewis Goultry swam  all four strokes over 200m individual medley taking the bronze medal in 2.31.38.

 

Zerif Gokmen is another intermediate who has been swimming well. In the gala she improved her 50m times over breaststroke (54.80) and butterfly (43.16) respectively and subsequently passed the Physical Section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which she is currently participating in at bronze level.

 

Also competing for Vikings were Darcey Lee, Lexie Parker, Layla Callaby, Niamh Corfield and Ashley Jones.

COACH & CHAIRPERSON REQUIRED

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The club need to fill two vacancies urgently and we wondered if you  could fulfil either one of them. They need a new Chairperson and a Lead Coach.

For the position of chair you do not have to be from a swimming background or even a sports background. What we are looking for is some one who can devote the time, uphold the principles of the club and be proficient in man management. This is an exciting role, within one of North Walsham’s leading sports club. The club carters for junior swimmers through to Masters and has been successful at County Regional and National Level Further training will be given and the position will be subject to a successful reference and an enhanced DBR check which is standard procedure.  This is a voluntary role.

A lead coach is also required. Preferably Level II qualified. He or she will lead a team of experienced coaches and set schedules accordingly . Again the position will be subject to a successful reference and an enhanced DBR check. This is a paid position.

Interested? For further details please contact North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club

  info@norfolkvikings.co.uk

HARRY & IMOGEN STRIKE GOLD

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Harry and Imogen strike gold at swim gala.

It was a memorable day for North Norfolk Viking Senior Swimmer 19 year old Harry Hudson competing in the “Mid Summer Madness”at the UEA Sports park Gala.  He recorded the fastest time in the gala over 50m freestyle in 26.38 and subsequently beat 29 competitors in his own age group,  Also competing in the same event were fellow Vikings Lewis Goultry and Ashley Jones who went 27.29 and  27.33 finishing 5th and 6th respectively.

Meanwhile, 10 year old Imogen Laws had every reason to be proud of her multiple achievements. Imogen was a gold medallist  for the 100m freestyle with  1:17.38 beating 15 other competitors including fellow Viking Lexie Parker who did well to achieve 1:32.44 for the distance. Imogen went on the achieve  five  more medals, significantly the 200m freestyle when she achieved silver in 2:55.81. This was her first gala in a 50m pool.

In the intermediate categories, 13 year old Evie Bates enjoyed her outing by achieving two bronze medals. Her first one came in the 200m freestyle in 2:34.64 and the second was over 100m butterfly when she touch in  2:34.64. Toby Corfield was the other Viking medallist when he won silver over 200m backstroke in 3:04.03 Afterwards Viking Coach Adam Crafer said:

“I Really enjoyed watching everyone race.  Lots of great swims but some things to work on, Meanwhile, every one played their part and did a great job.”

Thanks also to Leona Scott, Anna Thurston, Grace Parker, Layla Callaby, Saha Hordinenko, Emily Morton, Niamh Corfield, Bethany Brooks,  Millie, George & Zak Edridge

TOUGH BUT ENJOYABLE

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Tough but enjoyable
We had a  tough but a very enjoyable time at the Inter County Swimming Gala held at the UEA Sports Park. There were two separate junior and senior competitions but no medals were awarded for places as it was primarily a team event. However, Vikings had a number of first three places both in the individual events and the relays.
Isaac Buchan was the only one who achieved a first and it came in the 100m backstroke when he touched in a personal best time of 1:07.27. A mere tenth of a second ahead of his nearest rival in a finger tip finish. Isaac, aged 15, went onto claim two further third places to keep Vikings in contention.
Meanwhile, younger brother Noah had a second in the 13 years 100m freestyle and emulated his elder brother by recording a personal best in 1:03.25 but equivocally just missing the first place in another finger tip finish. Noah’s other success came in the 100m breaststroke with a third place in 1:29.68 in another tight finish. Harry Hudson also had  a second place in the 100m butterfly when he touched the pad in 1:01.18 .in the 16+ age group
Alfie McCann,(50m backstroke 41.24), Toby Corfield (50m freestyle 40.27 ), Anna Turner (50m butterfly 44.56) and Emily Morton (100m freestyle  1:03.68 and 100m backstroke 1:12.74 respectively.) All of whom recorded personal bests for third place
In the juniors, Lexie Parker, Isla Cartwright, Anna Turner and Imogen Laws came third in the 4 x 50 freestyle relay with 2:38.19 and in the 4 x 50 medley relay  the quartet did it again in  with another third in 2:58.70
There was more relay success in the seniors when Noah  Razvan Platon, twins George and Zak Edridge brought it home to finish third in 4 x 50 medley relay in 2:19.30. At the conclusion ,team manager Samantha Seaman summed up the performance.
“Our aim for this gala was to have fun as a team and try new things; and that’s exactly what we did.  Everyone worked hard, they were an excellent team cheering each other on and everyone embraced new challenges with the usual cheery Vikings spirit.   I’m very proud of the whole team.”
Also representing Vikings were Winnie Browne, Anna Thurston, Millie Edridge,  Reuben Seaman, Sam Morton Grace Parker, Leona Scott, Leonardo Jones, Evie Bates  Layla Callaby Bethany Brooks & Tessa Cartwright.
Final Results Juniors 1 City of Norwich 279  7 Vikings 108
Seniors 1 West Norfolk Club 293  7 Vikings 135

JUNIOR VIKINGS EXCEL

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Junior Viking Swimmers Excel at Gala

We took a small   junior team travelled to Kings Lynn to compete in the West Norfolk Swimming Gala. It was challenging for them as they were up against new teams who came from the west of the region such as Huntingdon and Peterborough as well as Norwich Kings Lynn and Great Yarmouth.
 Joe and Emma Willimott  swam beyond all expectations as they brought home two gold medals apiece and recorded a personal best in each of their swims. Joe,  struck gold in the very first event when he touched in 49.27 over 50m backstroke. In the 50m freestyle he completed the course in 39.20 for a second gold.
Younger sister Emma meanwhile was making the most of her opportunities and in the 50m butterfly she won easily by a clear five seconds finishing first in 52.18 and recording a personal best by 21 seconds.
Emma’s second gold came In the 50m  freestyle  when she finished in 44.02 50, just out touching the Huntingdon swimmer by a split second and subsequently defeating a field of 18 swimmers.
More Viking gold medals followed  when Rokas Kriksciunas won his first Viking medal which was a gold when he swam 50m breaststroke in 1:05.15 – a personal best. He was not finished here, Rokas took the silver for the 50m freestyle in his respective age group with 48.03. This was followed by Finn Callaby winning over 50m freestyle with his 48.4 in a different age group.
There were  first Viking medal for  Alice Dickerty when she bagged a pair of silvers. The 50m backstroke in 42.67 and 50m freestyle in 36.41 both in respective personal best times.
There was a silver lining too for Finn’s elder sister Layla when she was second in the 100m freestyle with 1:22.38 in a personal best.
Leonardo Jones achieved two bronze medals respectively His successes came over the 100m freestyle  in 1:45.19 and he followed it up with a second bronze for the 50m backstroke with 52.31 both in personal best times.
It was a similar scenario with Anna Thurston with her two personal best bronze medals. Anna went 43.71 for 50m backstroke  and the 50m freestyle in 36.48 respectively just loosing out to Alice by seven one hundredths of a second!

Also representing Vikings was  Amelie Cutting who recorded personal bests but were not in the medals this time. These came in the 50 freestyle finishing fifth in 51.12 and fifth again this time over 50m butterfly in 1:08.87 to take the Viking total to  6 Golds 4 Silvers 4 Bronze and 20  personal bests  out of 22 swims. After the gala John said

“With so many personal best times one can hardly complain about their performances and with winning 6 golds, 4 silvers and 4 bronze medals, it just epitomized their dedication and commitment from all who swam.”

REGIONAL ROUND UP

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Vikings find it tough at Regional Gala.

Amid hundreds of entries, Norfolk’s smallest  swimming  club,  North Norfolk Vikings still managed to have four individual qualifiers and a men’s relay team for the Eastern Regional Championships held in Luton.
As expected competition was fierce but ladies club captain Leah Harris still managed to go 1:12.07 over 100m butterfly long course and in the freestyle she completed the 100m in 1 04.28. It was another 100m for 18 year old Harry Hudson who was well below a minute when he touched the pad in 56.85. for the freestyle.
Lily Herring came third In the 400m Freestyle when the combined multi-classification para swimming points were announced after a very demanding 400m freestyle finishing on 5::51.64 .Herring came third again in the multi classification over the shorter distance of 100m with her 1:19.56.
Isaac Buchan handled four events  400 IM 5 24.08  400 freestyle 4:36.04,100 butterfly 1.04.52  and the 200m backstroke 2 27.42. All his swims were personal bests and in the 400m freestyle the 15 year old finished in sixth place..
The climax of the gala for the Vikings  was the 4 x 100 Men’s Freestyle Relay consisting of Ashley Jones, Lewis Goultry, Sam Morton and Harry Hudson. Jones, Goultry and Hudson all broke a minute for the 100m with men’s club captain Morton going just over a minute in !;01.61. and subsequently the team  finished eighth with 3:56.48.
They were only one of two Norfolk clubs in the final. The eventual winners were the City of Norwich who just out touched the City of Cambridge  in a very close finish. After the gala, a member of the Viking coaching staff said
“Although no one medalled  competing at this level has been a valuable experience for all the swimmers and full credit to the relay team as this was the first time in the club’s history they were able to field a team at this level.”
More to come….

VIKINGS IN MEDAL HAUL

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Vikings In Medal Haul At Swim Gala
A strong junior North Norfolk Vikings Swimming team descended on Dereham Leisure Centre for the Easter Mini Meet ably hosted by the Dereham Otters Swimming Club and achieved  thirty seven medals in one afternoon.
Brother and sister Finn and Layla Callaby got the Vikings off to a flying start by winning golds as early as the first and second events. They were both achieved over 50m backstroke when Finn went  55.26 and his elder sister Layla touched in 40.41.respectively. There was more backstroke success over the same distance when Imogen Laws won her first  gold of the afternoon with  41.62  with Anna Thurston and Milly Edridge making it a bronze each.
Over 100m backstroke, the female quartet all medalled again with both Layla and Imogen collecting their second golds  in 1:31.25 and 1:36.72 respectively.  Anna Thurston went one better with a silver in 1:36.29 and Milly, meanwhile,  gained her second bronze of the afternoon with 1:47.27.Anna, Layla and Imogen went on to have an outstanding gala all winning six medals each.

Anna Turner made a successful return to the Dereham pool and repeated her form from last October  Anna swam 47.30 for gold in the 50m butterfly and then in the 100m breaststroke,  took bronze with 1:53.04.  In  the final event of the day, the 100m freestyle, she made it a hat trick in another personal best time of 1:24.84 claiming silver.

Holly Cartwright won her very first gold medal for the club in the  100m freestyle, covering the course in 1:50.43. Her 10 year old twin sister Tessa, earned two bronze medals respectively for 50m freestyle 47.89 and 50m  breaststroke 1.06.81.Their eldest sister, 12 year old Isla rose to the challenge  when she swam all the strokes over 100m Individual Medley finishing third in 1.50.29 to collect a bronze.
First time gold medals also came from Niamh Corfield in 1:09:58 and Lucy Fincher who scored 1:04:63. as both recorded personal best times over 50m breastroke in respective age groups as did   Willow Hopkin  for 50m freestyle. in 48.21 Willow added a silver to her gold  for 50m breaststroke  1.10.21.
Niamh Corfield found her self in the medals again when she went 58.01 for 50m freestyle achieving a bronze. It was the same distance and event when Isla Haynes, gained a silver 50m freestyle in 41.54 for her respective age group.
Lexie Parker, Darcy Lee,  Amelia Hudson,  Emilia Sequeira-Reis, Heidi Smith and Zerif Gokmen. all swam well even though they did not medal this time.

 

 

LEXIE DELIVERS SILVER SERVICE

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Lexie delivers   silver service at swim gala
Lexie Parker  swam at the West Norfolk Swimming Gala in Kings Lynn and achieved three silver medals and a bronze recording  a personal best time on each outing.
Lexie, who has recently moved from the club’s Development Squad into squad “C” rose to the occasion and achieved her silvers all over 50m.  These were the backstroke 53.63,  freestyle 51.30  and butterfly 59.73. The 10 year old’s bronze medal came in the 100m freestyle when she touched in 1:43.77, improving her time by an outstanding 20 seconds
 Imogen Laws  aged 10, came away with three bronze medals. Her first one was the 100m freestyle when she scored 1:22.04 and in the 100m backstroke she went 1:34.37. It was backstroke again for her third medal when she completed  the  50m  finishing in 42.59  Imogen too recorded personal best times in all her swims.
Toby Corfield was the only Viking gold medallist at the gala. The year 11 year old covered 100m freestyle in 1:15.89 and then made it a double gold when he won the 100m butterfly in 1:31.08 respectively. Toby just finished short over the 200m backstroke when he had to settle for a silver in  3:03.44 missing the gold by just three tenths of a second.
 Vikings also  achieved  three more bronze medals through Leona Scott, 100backstroke 1:27.99, George Edridge 200 freestyle 2:22.55 and Layla Callaby 50m backstroke 41.19 50.
Also Ashley Jones,  Zak Edridge, Evie Bates,  Razvan Platon,  Anna Thurston, Mily Edridge and Darcey Lee also represented us at the gala
Well done to all our swimmers who took part.