08/04/13…..’Golden Jo’ and ‘Team Thame’ deliver swimming success

TEAM Thame were back in action recently at the Aqua Vale in Aylesbury for the first weekend of the Oxon & North Bucks (ONB) swimming County Championships 2013. Previous County events were the distance and the 400m events but this was the first weekend of the main championships with 50m, 100m and 200m events as well as relays, and Team Thame delivered some great performances.

The boys had some great swims in the 50m Freestyle on Saturday, March 9. Hallam Cozier as the second reserve finalist, had a great swim and delivered a PB of 34.20 seconds. Marus Birmingham did a 1.5 sec PB with 31.09 secs, and was racing Kymir Ibrgymov all the way to the finish where Kym came first in the heat with 30.66 secs, a one sec PB just pipping Marcus. Kym made the final for the 12 year old boys at his first ever counties.

Then came Ben Williams who confirmed his sub-30sec performance in the relays in February and stormed to the finish in 29.62 secs, a one second PB. The 14 year-old boys were represented by Nacho Mendi with a heat time of 27.27 secs which not only took him to the final but also to the position of fastest in the club, beating Jamie Goetz?s PB of 27.50 seconds. Jamie followed in the 17 year-old and over’s heat achieving a time of 27.56 seconds, only 0.06 slower than his PB after missing training due to illness.

The girls then came centre stage for the 50m Butterfly. Hannah Hawken delivered a time of 33.58 secs. The boys 100M IM followed and Marcus Birmingham delivered a 4 second PB with 1.19.37 and was first reserve finalist in 9th for the 12 year old boys. Nacho also delivered a 4 sec PB with 1.10.56.

Then came the girls 4 x 100 relay where the Thame Team came sixth in 5.02.59 seconds, 11 secs under their entry time. A great success and all got finalist medals. The team was Lydia Devitt (back 1.12.71), Rebecca Smith (breast 1.28.87), Grace Gilmore (fly 1.16.06), Hannah Hawken (free 1.04.57). The next event was the 200m IM and Grace was back in action delivering a three second PB in a time of 2.41.62 secs.

The boys then came back for the 200m Freestyle with Marcus Birmingham delivering a nine second PB with a time of 2.28.08 secs. Then it was the third session with the finals from the earlier events. Both Nacho and Kym made the finals for the boys 50m Freestyle and both P?d again ? Nacho after some significant streamlining (he shaved his legs!). Their times were; Kymir sixth place in 30.35 and Nacho fifth place in 27.05, all great swims. So, after a long day, everyone headed home to rest and prepare for the next day of hard competition.

Sunday started off with Ella Simms in the 100m Freestyle and a 3.5 second PB in 1.10.08 secs. Then came Imogen Newell with a PB and a time of 1.11.20 secs and Florence Savage with a PB of 1.07.25 secs. Grave and Hannah were back in action again and didn?t disappoint. Grace delivered a two second PB with 1.04.97 secs and Hannah a three second PB and an ASA South East regional Qualifying time of 1.03.35 secs and to add to that she was first reserve for the final.

Grace was back in action for the 50m backstroke with a one second PB of 34.20 secs and then Lydia Devitt with a PB in 34.36 secs but Lydia went on to deliver a three second PN in the 200m Backstroke with a time of 2.38.19 3 secs.

So, why is JO the Golden Girl? Well she?s a Double County Champion ? ok she was swimming for Bucks Disability SC but she?s a Thame SC Group 1 & Masters swimmer and came home with two first place trophies! Well Done Jo!

Team Thame were back in action on March 16 and 17, at the Aqua Vale in Aylesbury for the second weekend of the Oxon & North Bucks (ONB) County Championships 2013. Previous County events were the distance and 400m events and the first weekend of the main championships, this was the second weekend with more 50m, 100m and 200m events as well as relays and Team Thame delivered some great performances.

Grace Gilmore opened the weekend with a PB in the 100m Backstroke in a time of 1:15.91 secs. Then came Georgia Cahill with a heats time of 1:08.41 secs which got her to the finals with a sixthth Place finalists medal and a time of 1:08.17secs. Then Nacho Mendi opened the boys account for the weekend in the 100m Breaststroke with a heats time of 1:22.61 secs getting him to the finals with a time of 1:19.99 secs.

Then came the girls 50m Freestyle with two Thame SC swimmers achieving ASA SER Regional Times and reaching the finals and several PBs for the girls: