Events

James Defends 200m Back East Region SC Title

Posted on: 3rd January 2023

Kicking off the 2022/23 short course championship season is the Swim England East Region SC Championships, aka Winter Regionals. Fifteen BSSC swimmers headed to Luton to compete against the best swimmers that the six Eastern counties of England could offer. Qualification had been split into three age groups to ensure the most talented younger swimmers could enter, but the event itself was an open race, so young qualifiers like 14 year old Ella Greatbatch battled against seasoned competitors in their twenties. Reaching a final meant you were in the top eight swimmers in the East Region for that event, irrespective of age.

Callum Cox, Callum Davis, George Taylor, Jakey Hayes, Emma Fields, Kirsty Neill, Ella Greatbatch, Lauren Gore, Jake Lloyd, Bella Parkus, Niamh James, Meisha Trend-Evans, Laura Burgess

The first full day of competition kicked off in style with Niamh qualifying for the 50m Backstroke final with a personal best time (PB, 29.76), and finishing 6^th in the final (30.05). Later that day as returning champion in the 200m Backstroke, she fought off a strong challenge from a Team Ipswich 16 year old to take Gold by 0.23 seconds in 2:14.75.

In the 50m Freestyle, Callum Cox, Callum Davis and Jake Lloyd all swam PBs (23.57, 24.45, 25.96). Sixteen year old Callum Cox’s time secured him a place in the final where he came 4^th (23.82) in an event won by an eighteen year old.

Emma Fields was on form in the 100m Freestyle with a PB in the heats of 59.17 and she knocked 0.01 seconds off that new PB to come 7^th in the final.

Callum Cox swum a great heat in 50m Butterfly with a PB of 25.40 and was straight into the final, whilst Callum Davis was joint 8^th (25.77) and had to swim off for a final place. Incredibly, both swimmers achieved identical results for the second time in the swim off, but the officials deemed the other swimmer had broken a technical rule and should be disqualified, moving Callum Davis into the final. Both performed well in the final, with Callum Davis coming 5^th(25.63), and Callum Cox 7^th (25.99, 1^st under 18 year old).

The excitement continued on the Sunday, with Niamh coming 4^th in the 200m IM final (2:22.21) and 5^th in the 100m Backstroke (1:04.17).

Kirsty Neill and Ella Greatbatch swam strong times to secure places in the 200m Breaststroke final (2:37.08 and 2:39.54 PB), where they came 6^th and 7^th (2:39.71 and 2:40.29) and were the 1^st and 2^nd under 16 year old competitors.

Callum Davis and Callum Cox both qualified for the 100m Butterfly final (57.44 & 57.71 PB), where Callum Davis came 6^th (57.86) and Callum Cox came 8^th (1:01.21), the 2^nd swimmer under 18 in a field dominated by 22 year olds.

Lauren Gore secured her place in the 50m Breaststroke final with a PB (33.43) and came 6^th in the final (33.53), the 2^nd under 18. Fourteen year old Ella was 12^th in the event with a PB (33.85) and a 14/15 year BSSC Short Course club record. In July 2021, Kirsty Neill broke the 14/15 year 50m Breaststroke record (35.1) with a time of 34.85, that had stood since 2007 (Bernice Edgeworth). Since then she dropped it multiple times down to 34.37, but 14 year old Ella smashed that record with a 33.85.

Full list of qualifiers: Ella Greatbatch (14 years); Alice Longman, George Taylor, Jacob Hayes, Kirsty Neill (15 years); Callum Cox, Emma Fields, Grace Mason, Lauren Gore, Meisha Trend-Evans, Miriam Moukdad, (16 years); Bella Parkus (17 years); Callum Davis, Jake Lloyd, Niamh James (18 over).

Qualified but unable to swim: Laura Burgess, Jago Derrington (16 years).

BSSC Masters represent Hertfordshire

Posted on: 21st December 2022

Ten members of Bishop’s Stortford Swimming Club’s Masters squad were recently selected to represent Hertfordshire, in the Swim England National Masters Inter-County Competition. Held across six nationwide events with all 33 English Counties competing for the first time in the 22 year history of the event, the results were amalgamated into a National league table and Hertfordshire came a very respectable 14^th in an event won by Devon.

At each Regional event swimmers competed in 50m backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle for women and men in age groups 18 plus, 25 plus, 35 plus, 45 plus, 55 plus, 65 plus and 50m freestyle for age group 75 plus. Relays (one team per county) were 4 x 50m medley and freestyle for women and men for combined age groups 72 plus, 100 plus, 140 plus, 180 plus, 220 plus and mixed (two women and two men) 4 x 50m mixed medley and freestyle for age group 260 plus.

All swimmers contributed to the great final position of Hertfordshire but the achievements of Alyson Fordham swimming in the 65 plus age group are definite highlights. Alyson dominated the field in two of her events, coming 1^st in the 50m freestyle (32.32) and 50m backstroke (39.37) and she also came 4^th in the amalgamated results in the 50m breaststroke (44.39) and 50m butterfly (37.66). Youngsters Callum Davis and Niamh James achieved top ten English finishes in their 18 plus races too: Niamh 6^th in the 50m backstroke (32.22) and Callum 7^th in 50m butterfly (26.74)

Ex Stortford coach Barry Chandler swam for Suffolk (24^thoverall) coming 2^nd in the 50m butterfly (32.12) and 3^rd in the 50m freestyle (30.05).

Full individual BSSC (old and current!) Swim England amalgamated results :

50m Freestyle female: 1^st Alyson Fordham (65+), 13^th Sally Winter (55+), 25^th Helen Shingler (45+)
50m Freestyle male: 3^rd Barry Chandler (Suffolk, 65+), 14^th Callum Davis (18+)
50m Breaststroke female: 4^th Alyson Fordham (65+), 13^th Niamh James (18+), 24^th Helen Shingler
50m Breaststroke male: 15^th Joe Collins (18+), 28^th Jake Lloyd (25+)
50m Butterfly female: 4^th Lizzie Bellinger (35+) and Alyson Fordham (65+), 13^th Niamh James (18+), 14^th Sally Winter (55+), 17^th Anne Vanner (Suffolk, 55+), 28^th Helen Shingler (45+)
50m Butterfly male: 2^nd Barry Chandler (Suffolk, 65+), 7^th Callum Davis (18+), 20^th Jake Lloyd (25+)
50m Backstroke female: 1^st Alyson Fordham (65+), 6^th Niamh James (18+), 12^th Sally Winter (55+), 16^th Lizzie Bellinger (45+), 19^th Helen Shingler (45+)
50m Backstroke male: 14^th Dan Chada (18+), 24^th Jake Lloyd (25+)

BSSC Masters: Alyson Fordham, Aoife James, Callum Davis, Dan Chada, Helen Shingler, Jake Lloyd, Joe Collins, Lizzie Bellinger, Niamh James, Sally Winter and

Ex-BSSC Masters: Anne Vanner (Suffolk), Barry Chandler (Suffolk)

Celebrating Club Championships

Posted on: 15th December 2022

Bishop’s Stortford Swimming Club came together in November to celebrate the achievements of their swimmers during the 2021/22 season and their recent Club Championships performances, where swimmers get to compete against each other to be part of BSSC history. This was the first full uninterrupted season since 2018/19 and the first Club Championships and awards night since late 2019.

Sally Winter, BSSC President and European record holding Masters swimmer welcomed the swimmers, many of whom had never been to a Club Awards evening and went on to highlight the fantastic achievements of the BSSC swimmers over the past season. Coach Romesh then inspired the swimmers with his story of transitioning from a non-swimming 9 year old to representing Sri Lanka in the National Diving team aged 13.

The medals and trophies from Club Championships were handed out by BSSC Senior Club Captain Callum Davis, who was ably aided by the two newly appointed Club Captains Freya Reilly and Jakey Hayes. Coach Joe Collins presented the 2021/22 Coaches Awards to:

The Most Improved Girl: Yana Patel
The Most Improved Boy: Benjamin Palmer
Award for Endeavour Girls: Isabelle Earley
Award for Endeavour Boys: Zack Haslett Fossey
Sportsmanship Award: Noah Conroy

Some of the trophies date back to the 1950s and provide a fascinating history of each age group and event within the club, for example the Langley Swimming Challenge Cup for most improved boy awarded to 11 year old Benjamin Palmer was first presented in 1955 to a J. Burrows and in 2011 was awarded to an 11 year old who became senior club captain Callum Davis.

Twelve year olds Molly Greatbatch and Elliot Hall accepted the Hertfordshire Peanuts League banner on behalf of the BSSC Peanuts team who had come 6^th in the top division of the league during the 2021/22 season.

It was wonderful to be able to celebrate together again from the Under 9’s through to the Over 16s and huge congratulations should go to all the BSSC swimmers! We look forward to many more successes in 2023 and many more celebrations.

Super Six head to Winter Nationals

Posted on: 1st December 2022

Congratulations to the six swimmers who have qualified for the Swim England National Winter Championships (25m) being held in Sheffield from 2-4th December.

Medal haul for BSSC youngsters

Posted on: 1st December 2022

Recently, thirteen Bishop’s Stortford Swimming Club members aged 9 to 17 made the short journey to Harlow Leisurezone for Cheshunt Swimming Club’s 17^th Annual Autumn Open Meet. This is always a fun and noisy meet to attend, with plenty of poolside dancing during the warm up.

The thirteen swimmers took part in 48 swims, with more than half of swims resulting in personal best times and seven swimmers brought home 18 medals between them (10 Gold, 7 Silver and 1 Bronze).

Special mention must go to nine- and ten-year-old swimmers, Millie Cass, Yana Patel and Guy Spearman-Baines, who jingled home with eight gold and five silver medals! Nine-year old Yana won gold in the 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke and 50m Butterfly and silver in the 100m Freestyle. Ten-year old Millie won gold in the 50m Breaststroke and silver in the 50m/100m Freestyle and 100m IM, whilst Guy took gold in the 50m Breaststroke, 50m/100m Backstroke and 50m Freestyle and silver in the 100m Breaststroke.

They were absolutely thrilled with their wins; Yana commented: “Swimming makes me feel upbeat because I love being in the water. I enjoy competing against people that are a similar age to me and I love excitement of racing. I feel proud of myself every time I win a race or beat my PB. My goal for this year is to improve the technique of my strokes, especially for backstroke which is my toughest stroke.”

Guy was enthusiastic about his personal bests, saying: “My best race at Cheshunt was my 50m backstroke because I took two seconds off my PB. For my 100m breast stroke I was so close to getting a Counties consideration time – maybe at the next meet I’ll absolutely smash it! It was funny when all the older swimmers joined in with dancing the YMCA before the warm up! I’m glad that so many other Stortford swimmers got medals too.”

Millie agreed: “I had a fab day at the Cheshunt meet, it was great fun supporting all my club friends. My favourite race was 50 breaststroke. I am looking forward to working on my speed and technique in the next year and to improve my PBs.”

Congratulations also go to eleven-year olds Isabelle Earley, Lois Fields and Meha Patel who achieved personal best times in all the races they entered.

Full list of medalists:

9 years: Yana Patel (Gold 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly; Silver 100m Freestyle)

10 years: Millie Cass (Gold 50m Breaststroke; Silver 50m Freestyle/100m Freestyle, 100m IM), Guy Spearman-Baines (Gold 50m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke/100m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle; Silver 100m Breaststroke)

13 years: Bobbie MacDonald-Williams (Silver 100m Butterfly)

15 years: Emma Fields (Gold 400m Freestyle)

17 years: Isabella Good (Gold 100m Butterfly; Bronze 50m Butterfly), Minnie Savage (Silver 100m Butterfly)