Silver Linings For Harry and Sophie

Harry Hudson was on top form again for the club when he claimed four silver medals and broke another 30 seconds at the UEA. in a competition promoted by Diss Otters Swimming Club when clubs attended from all parts of the Eastern Region.
The sixteen year old from Stalham – who has already gone under 30 seconds in the 50 freestyle in July – went under 30 again in 29 seconds exactly: this time over 50m butterfly but was just thwarted by James Crossfield of Deben as only 0.85 separated the pair. Harry later went on to win his heat in the 50m backstroke but just missed another thirty seconds with his 30.97. and just 0.42 agonisingly outside gold to Joe Flowers of St Felix School who swam faster in a different heat However, he came back strongly In the 100m butterfly to achieve his third silver medal in 1.07.05, when he was runner up to Cornelis Verdonk of Newmarket who touched in 1:05.99. To complete his quartet of silvers, he came second in the 100m backstroke two seconds adrift to Joe Flowers in 1:09.22.
Sophie Mckee made the most of the opportunity and proved what an adroit swimmer she is by claiming second place in the 15 years backstroke against stiff opposition with 1:16.02 and then later joined fellow Viking Ruby Tracey from North Walsham in the 100m freestyle coming seventh in 1:06.89 from Ruby’s ninth in 1:08.41. Ruby’s highest position was the 100m breaststroke when she finished in sixth place in 1:26.36 – her best stroke.
Intermediates William Coop, and Masie Fagan both from North Walsham demonstrated their appetite for the sport in their respective age groups, both swimmers did three events. William admitted that his best race was his 50m freestyle and it was epitomised in his technique when he went over the distance in 33.80 finishing fifth. Masie, meanwhile made no mistakes when the North Walsham High School student completed the 200m freestyle as one of the braver Vikings coming tenth in 3:03.41. Rebecca Burrows was simply excellent in her 200m freestyle when on the last length, the 14 year old from Rackheath demonstrated an almost perfect unilateral breathing technique to take her strongly to the finish in 2:51.95 to finish seventh.
In the under 13 years 50m freestyle the time margins were faster than blinking when Viking trio Rebecca Burrows, Emily Beighton and Emily Morton seemed to touch the pad together but the electronic timing separated, them all with Rebecca on 36.05 finishing in 16 place with Beighton on 36.83 just 0.05 ahead of Morton respectively although under swimming laws, they were both awarded 18 place as the margin was so slender.
Swim twins George and Zak Edridge excelled in both the 100m freestyle and breastsroke respectively with George getting the slight upper hand on his brother. George was fluent especially on the freestyle when he recorded a 1:25.52 and in the breastsroke finished one place ahead of his brother in 1:36.23, both of whom were below their entry time displaying a significant improvement from both brothers.
Esme Seaman, aged 11 and her younger brother Reuben aged 9, swam in no fewer than seven events between them. Esme, looked determined and demonstrated her improved fitness when she came thirteenth with her 50m 51.28 over 50m butterfly. Graduating from the development squad, Reuben came second over 50m breaststroke in his heat and surprisingly did very well to finish in 1:06.49 coming eighth. Reuben also excelled in the 50m freestyle in 48.17 and he was joined in the same race by fellow Viking, Bailee Beighton who scored 49.24 with both boys coming ninth in their respective age group categories. A distinct improvement from the pair.
New member, 10 year old Winnie Browne made her debut with the Vikings with both 50m freestyle (42.67 -sixth) and 50m backstroke (53.72 – fifth)) respectively.
Vikings achieved forty one personal bests and eight county qualifying times – congratulations to them all!
John Holden
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Photo – Ruby Tracey, Harry Hudson & Sophie McKee
Photo – Only split seconds separated L – R Emily Morton, Emily Beighton & Rebecca Brooks
Photo – Winnie Browne who made her debut for the club.

Gala Opportunity For New Members

 Membership has recently sored in our junior section, Therefore, Beeston Hall School kindly offered Vikings an opportunity to either compete for the very first time or a chance of a little more race practice in a friendly match against their school team. No fewer than thirty one swimmers took part as distances were contested over both 20m and 40m in front of a large gathering of appreciative parents and spectators. 

There were some exciting races and close finishes and one event event was decided by two tenths of a second whilst both teams scored points on either side of the lane lines However when the final tally was revealed Beeston Hall School ended up worthy winners.

At the conclusion,  Mrs Cresswell from Beeston school said

“For many this was their first chance to race against children outside of their school and they enjoyed the opportunity and rose to the challenge. Vikings put on an excellent display with some brilliant swims and we had a number of nail biting finishes.”

and our Chairperson Sarah Buchan, replied with 

“Our junior section has been developing well  lately and it was pleasing to see them reaping their reward for all their hard work they have put in over the summer months and thanks  to Beeston for their hospitality and friendly rivalry.”

 John Holden

Representing Vikings were L to R

Photo 1 The team  L to R Clara Farrow  Lilly Dear, Reuben Seaman,, Alice Dickety, Amiyah Haws, Isobelle Chaplin Evie Bates, Baillie Breighton, Isla Davies Toby Corfield, Georgia Lee, George & Zak Edridge.

 

 

 

Sam clinches a gold but still wants to swim faster.

Sam our lead coach  lead by example by competing himself in the Scottish National Short Course Masters & Senior Age Group  Championship and what a competition  he had! The event took place at Tollcross Park Leisure Centre Glasgow , under the auspices of Swim Scotland and  swam three events in the 35-39 masters age group category.This was Sam’s first competition in over two years.

His best result by far was his 200m freestyle in which he came first in a time of 2.12.72 – a full two seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

Sam was also runner up in the 400m freestyle. scoring 4.50.73 but explained that it was a hard fought race.

“This was a tough race for two reasons. I had done the 100m only 20 minutes before this race and its never easy to use two different energy systems in two very different races.” However, after he swam the 100m, Sam had very mixed emotions and although he came sixth he was, on the other hand, happy for now  to record his second best time ever of 1.00.51 He now wants to go on and break a minute over the distance. “I know that I’m capable of it and I will have another chance when I compete again in October” added Sam. 

John Holden

My first open water swim

The event was part of my mums Ironman distance triathlon and was held at the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrpont, Nottingham. I was swimming with lots of adults and older children. When I was going up to the start the weather was quite cold but they said the water was warm and they didn’t lie, the temperature was very warm, like getting into a bath. When we started you had the option to dive or sit and slide in, I dived off the side in to the dark green water.

I could just about see my hand as it entered the water. It was cold at the beginning but got so warm. I had to swim 1.2 miles, the water was very choppy. The big orange buoys were difficult to see, but I looked forward every 6-8 strokes and this kept me going in a straight line. The whole time I was thinking about how I was going to feel great after the swim. It was hard work and tiring however, I felt awesome and refreshed and I would do it again and I will. I was so happy to come second in the under 16 age group, I never knew I could swim that fast for so long. I would encourage others to do an open water swim if they get the chance, it is a great experience and one that I will do again.

July 2021

 

 

The Club got their first taste of competition for a long while at the “Midsomer Madness” competition held at the UEA promoted by the City of Norwich Swimming Club and under the auspices of Swim England’s Covid Regulations which meant no spectators were allowed. A pity, as they would have seen Vikings enter 72 individual races, resulting in 61 best times and 16 top three finishes.
Noah Buchan of Beeston Regis, won the 100m freestyle in 1:22.29.ahead of his Viking team mate, Michael Sayer from Holt who went 1:26.45. However, this was not enough for the two ten year olds respectively as they both made more trips onto the podium. Noah was runner up in the 50 metre freestyle with his 38.87 and a third place in 54.64 over 50 metres breaststroke. Meanwhile, Michael was a runner up again this time in the 50metre backstroke scoring 43.05
Esme Seaman, 11, was very brave to attempt the 200 Individual Medley long course. Esme finished in a creditable 10 place but with an outstanding twenty-two seconds improvement ahead of her entered time, subsequently hitting the pad in 4:15.0. In the seniors, Harry Hudson 15, from Stalham, broke a minute in the 100m freestyle in 58.71 finishing fifth, and later went onto break 30 seconds in the 50m with 26.52 respectively. Harry finished fourth after facing fierce competition in both races
Full credit and thanks for representing the club to our other members who took part, Ruby Tracy, Sophie McKee, Masie Fagan, Jimmy Margree, Jess Seamark, Isaac Buchan, Chloe Jackson, Izak Hamilton, brothers George and Zak Edridge and the leadership of our club captain Katy Coleman. At the conclusion our Lead Coach Sam Watts said
“I’m really pleased with everything we did over the weekend. Let’s keep this up and keep working hard.”
John Holden

 

Vikings Trio Rise To Challenge

North Norfolk Viking Swimmers, Romilly Hammond, aged 13 Isaac Buchan 12 and his younger brother Noah,10 “swam the channel” in a relay tandem swim in Beeston Hall School pool, where all three attend; raising money for much needed club funds. The trio took the plunge as early as 7am and finished at 7-05pm covering the 22 miles distance channel swimmers have to complete between England and France. They were supported by fellow club members who also swam with them at various stages. Club Captain Katy Colman, Michael Sayer, Amiyah Hawes, masters Mark Claxton, Julie Coleman Sarah Buchan Spike Buchan and Lead coach Sam Watts, who also did a stint in the pool. At the conclusion he said:
“ This is the first real club event for us since the lock downs began and It brought the club together. I would like to congratulate Romilly, Isaac and Noah for their endeavour especially as they had to battle against the cold and rain and thanks to all the supporters and helpers who came along to cheer them on.”

 

 

 

 

The North Walsham Community Shop have providing us with a new training clock. This will benefit every swimmer who attends club training at the Victory. The advantage of this clock it is portable, meaning it can be place anywhere in the pool to benefit the different squads starting at different ends in addition to the permanent clock already fixed. At the hand over of the clock, Annie Abbs and Veronica Cooke, trustees of the Community Shop said:
We are really pleased to provide this training clock which will help the Viking swimmers. Our funds come entirely from the sale of public donations and this is just the sort of project that our volunteer-run charity exists to help” Club Captain, Katy Coleman replied with
“On behalf of all the swimmers, I just wanted to simply say ‘thank you’ to the Community Shop for the clock. This will be a great advantage to us all in our training for which we are all truly grateful.” as she received the clock on behalf of the Vikings.

John Holden

 

Grant From Watling Charity Provides Opportunity to join Vikings

The Club has been  awarded a small grant from Norfolk’s  Geoffrey Watling Charity to assist us with their project, Swimming Opportunities For All.(SOFA) This created vacancies for new members either to join the club or for parents to enroll youngsters in the “Learn to Swim” program at Aylsham High School. However, the response has been so positive that there are no more places at the time of writing but hopefully more places will be available as the COVID restrictions ease The cash boost will make swimming more accessible for more youngsters to benefit and enjoy extended free taster and  try outs.  Sarah Buchan, Club Chairperson explained the significance of receiving the grant.

“We would like to thank the Geoffrey Watling Charity for their kind assistance and we value any financial help which enhances a safe, healthy outlet for youngsters in our immediate community.”

The Vikings took the plunge in the middle of April immediately after the government eased the second phase of lock down but their over 18s will have to be a little more patient because they cannot get back in the swim until May.

Meanwhile, Vikings’ Lead Coach Sam Watts is wasting no time and has a distinct focus and a clear progression to the Vikings’ return

“Like all, we hope we are moving out of the last lock down in stages. Therefore, we too will introduce a staged approach towards building up fitness, bringing back proficient technique and develop stamina again before working on any real speedwork.”

John Holden

How far do you have to swim to cross the English Channel and how much would it cost you for an attempt? The distance is twenty-two miles and the average cost today is about two and a half thousand pounds. However, its not so daunting for three brave members of our club, Romilly Hammond (aged 13) and brothers Isaac (12) and Noah Buchan (10) respectively. They will attempt the distance in the Beeston Hall School Pool on Saturday 15 May covering 1,770 lengths, over twelve to thirteen hours in a relay tandem swim. The Vikings hope to raise the same two and half thousand pounds for their much needed funds through this endeavour, the launch of their “Just Giving Page”https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sarah-buchan-3?utm_term=3R9A9JrZG and other projects this coming summer. 

 

Leah and Isaac setting the pace as Vikings return to competition

 

Competitors from North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club participated in their first virtual competition since March and the first part was contested at the Victory Pool on Sunday when all events were over the same, 200m distance in Swim England’s National Level X Racing. This a nationwide club time trial giving club members the chance to compete against swimmers from across the country, to rejuvenate their racing skills and to try to make it onto the Level X Racing Leader boards!

 

Meanwhile, friendly Viking rivalries were also inevitable right from the first event, the Individual Medley where competitors swim all strokes. There was no doubt about the fastest here, seventeen year old Paston six form college student Leah Harris who led from the gun finishing in an impressive   2:36.37 from Club Captain Katy Coleman. However, Leah had an ironic  challenge later when her coach Sam Watts and masters swimmer Spike Buchan were time trialling in adjacent lanes in the Freestyle.  After an even 150m it was Sam who who moved ahead of Leah and provided an exciting close finish; not against Leah but Spike, who hit the pad in   2:18.89  a split second ahead of Sam. All three recorded creditable individual times which should put them in contention for the leader board in their respective categories.

 

In the junior heats, the ever improving Nelson Yarbo made no mistakes in 3:33.32. and there was a pleasant surprise from Bailee Beighton of the development squad who competed well and carried off the distance untroubled. There was a sibling rivalry, again in the junior section, between George and Zack Edridge also in the freestyle. Zack led for most of the distance but George made an outstanding come back on the last 50m. However, Zack just held on to record a fater time of  4:15.95  in an exciting finger tip finish. Emily Brighton and Esme Seaman, took the consolation places

 

It was an almost identical scenario  when the Edridge brothers met again, this time in the breaststroke. It was Zack fractionally ahead of  George in 3:57.09 and in the corresponding girls’ event, Romilly Hammond, who attends Beeston Hall School, achieved the fastest time of  3:43.06 from Madeleine Wicks and Emily Beighton respectively. In the backstroke it was Romilly again with  3:36.27 with Emily as runner up.

 

The first evening concluded with the Butterfly and full credit must be attributed to both, Katy Coleman and Isaac Buchan. It is a demanding event and although not a race as such between the two, both competed well against the clock. Katy “was pleased” with her  2:49.37 and Isaac who is five years her junior went 3:50.62 after him being the fastest boy in the backstroke scoring 3:16.00 and the  Individual Medley with 3:16.03

 

The concluding part of Swim England’s Level X took part again at the Victory Pool and had no fewer than twenty-one swimmers competing and the club set its swimmers the ultimate challenge in what many Olympians believe to be the “blue ribbon event: “ the 4 X 100m Individual Medley,(IM). Sixteen continuous lengths of the victory pool displaying ability on all four strokes. It was the ever present Leah Harris although she admitted that this was her first 400 IM as it was for Kay Coleman and Isaac Buchan. Leah was clearly the fastest in 5.28.45 and creditable times were recorded for Katy and Isaac respectively.

 

After an exciting encounter in the 200m freestyle, during part one of Level X, the trio of Sam Watts, Spike Buchan and Leah were drawn again in adjacent lanes and joining them for this 100m event was fifteen year old Harry Hudson. It turned out to be  the swim of the evening. On the last 25m it was clear it was going to be between Sam and Spike again but last week’s  positions were reversed as Sam was first home by just under two seconds from Spike in 1:02.31 with only respective marginal time differences between Harry and Leah.

 

In the 50m Freestyle, there were no fewer than eighteen competitors trying for a place on the leader boards. The fastest time in the masters was  28.32 achieved by Spike and in the seniors,30.0 by Harry Hudson. In the girls trial it was Leah Harris in 30.39 from Katy Coleman respectively. Both eight year old  Reuben Seaman and new comer, ten year old Bethany Brooks made the most of their opportunities in the event displaying solid performances whilst gaining invaluable experience.

 

Bethany did well again in the 50m butterfly as did Aylsham High School student Amy-Rose Thomas who surprised a number of people when she demonstrated an adroit technique proving to all the significant improvement she has made not just in the butterfly, but all strokes when she had earlier swam in the 100 IM. Gresham’s student, nine year old Michael Sayer also displayed how well he too had improved, especially on his freestyle.  Harry Hudson swam fastest in these two senior respective events achieving 36.21 and 1:11.84. from eleven year old Isaac Buchan and his nine year old brother Noah who swam well in no fewer than seven events.

 

In the breaststroke Ruby Tracy was outstanding in the 100m and by far the fastest in the girls with her 1:30.38 from Romilly Hammond.  However, Ruby did not have it all her own way as in the 50m it was Leah Harris in 40.90 ahead of Ruby. Sophie McKee, Esme Seaman and Maisie Fagan also made a positive contribution to this and other events; all of whom are undoubted prospects for the future. The boys 100m corresponding event had the ever present Edridge brothers with Zack being two tenths of a second ahead of George in 2:06.03.

 

Just after the swimming concluded, Club chairperson Sarah Buchan, who also swam in the trials, explained

 

“ The performances just proved how much potential there is in the club and everyone was excited to be competing again. Its a shame that we could not have any spectators in due to covid restrictions.”

 

Meanwhile, the swimmers wait patiently for for the Level X rankings to be issued.