BOUDICCA
Michael Sayer, aged 12, won a hat-trick of gold medals at the Boudicca Long Course Swimming Gala at the UEA Sports Park, Norwich and competitors from Norfolk and beyond provided excellent competition over two days.
His first success was in the 100m freestyle, Michael recorded a personal best of 1:14.72 – a four second improvement. In the backstroke, he hit the pad in 1:20.55 to take gold and completed the hat-trick with 3:47.29 over 200m breaststroke to claim his third gold. Michael went on to win two silvers and one bronze over the competition, recording personal best times in every event. At the end of the gala, Michael said:-
“My best swim was the 100m freestyle as I took 4 seconds off my personal best and beat some other swimmers in my heat who before the gala had achieved faster times than me. Training is hard work but this makes it worthwhile.”
Ellen Eccleston proved to all that she is one of the best competitors in Norfolk when the 16 year old won the 200m Individual Medley In a close race she brought it home on the freestyle leg of the event in a close finish touching the pad in 2:33.16 beating nine others in her age group and recording one of the fastest times over all. However, she had to settle for three silvers in her specialist breastsroke events.
Ironically, in her specialist breststroke events, she had to settle for silver medals. In the 200m her start was sublime as she swam into the stroke with alacrity and perfect timing, pacing the race well. In a surge for the finish it appeared that she would offer more but the electronic timing had her in second place in 2:33.16. In the same race fellow Viking Rebecca Burrows was sixth in 3:34.62.as she swam to the best of her ability. Ellen had two more silver successes in Breastroke. For the 100m (1.17.70) and the 50m (36.67) and then claimed another this time over 50m Butterfly with 31.87.
When asked about Ellen’s current progress, lead coach Sam responded with:-
“Ellen is swimming exceptionally well at the moment but it’s unrealistic to expect her to come first in every race or record a personal best every time she swims. As she approaches the Nationals next month, I believe we will see the best from Ellen.”
Toby Corfield bagged five medals in his respective age group. He won gold in the 100m butterfly in 1:44.57, easily winning by a four second margin. Toby, aged 11, also achieved two silvers and two bronze medals respectively.
As ever, Reuben Seaman did not disappoint. He came out on top this time with a gold medal in the 400m Individual Medley swimming two lengths of the 50m pool on each stroke. The 11 year old finished on 7.48.28.
Medals for Emily Morton are becoming routine and she did not disappoint over the week end by winning two freestyle medals. The 400m for silver in 5:10.29and in the 200m a bronze 2:25.06 respectively.
There was more success from our seniors. Ruby Tracey took silver in the 100m breastroke with 1.27.46 Sophie Mc Kee also had a silver on the 50m backstroke touching in 34.20 respectively.
Also representing Vikings were Captain Ashley Jones, Amy-Rose Thomas, Sam Morton, Harry Hudson, Leona Scott, Razvan Platon, Mia Turner, Lily Dear, Grace Parker, Evie Bates, Esme Seaman, Emily Beighton, George and Zak Edridge.
Vikings won 6 Golds, 13 Silvers and 4 Bronze medals – our thanks and congratulations to all our swimmers.