Isaac Is Awarded Swimming Scholarship

 

Isaac Buchan of Beston Regies has been awarded a swimming scholarship by St Felix School in Southwold. The 13 year old North Norfolk Vikings Club Swimmer is about to start the new school term training under the auspices of former Sprowston High School student and GB team Manager Suzanne Purchase. He finished at  Beeston Hall School in July, where he attended with his younger brother Noah, who also swims for the Vikings.

The scholarship has come about as a result of his excellent swims with the Vikings from when he first joined as an 8. year old. Subsequently this has provided him with a platform for him to succeed further. His main focus has been the freestyle events. In his respective age group he was runner up in the 800m in the Regionals as well as achieving 10 additional regional qualifying times.  He reached the Independent Schools final held at the London Aquatic Centre and upon leaving Beeston he held all 19 records for year 8 boys. He also holds 4 Vikings records.

His swimming achievements have not just been confined to pools. He has competed open water events too. He also came runner up in the Norfolk Open water Championships held at Whitlingham.  When asked about his scholarship

“I am really looking forward to be able to do my swimming alongside my schooling. I currently have a long way to travel for training, but at St Felix this will not be a problem. I can then be more focused to achieving national times and entries next year. The coaches at Vikings have really helped me on my way and hopefully will put me in a good place for the next chapter.” remarked Isaac.

MEDALS ACHIEVED BY ALL

Every North Norfolk Viking Swimmer won a medal at the Diss development gala  when they competed in various junior age group categories and six swimmers got hold of one for the very first time.

The favourable distance was over 25m freestyle where Alice Dickerty won gold in the 25m freestyle with 20.08. This was followed by Layla Callaby silver 20.63, Fearne Sadler silver 23.56,  Isobel Chaplin silver 18.62. and Clara Farrow bronze 18.81

In the 25 m backstroke. Vikings made it a clean sweep of medals with Alice Dickerty taking her second gold, just touching first in 20.08 from Layla Callaby’s silver  20.63 and Rosa Sadler’s bronze in 21.94, leaving the rest of the pack to traipse in; four seconds adrift.

Razvan Platon won no fewer than four gold medals, most impressive was his 100m Individual Medley when he hit the pad in 1:48.28.  Reuben Seaman entered four events and won them all. In his 50m breaststroke, the 9 year old broke a minute in 0:59.56. It was also in the breststroke when Fearne Sadler achieved her very first medal – a gold in  the 25m in 32.9.  Isobel Bird’s medal came a little later when she achieved a silver in the 25m breatstroke in her  first gala when she went under  thirty seconds in 29.84.

Evie Bates from Sheringham, bagged three golds and like Razvan earlier, it was the Individual Medley where she defeated a strong field of ten and excelled by completing the 100m course in 1:40.31 from Viking’s Be-be King’s 1:45.41 who took the silver medal spot. Be-be herself became a double gold medal holder winning in both the 50m freestyle in 17.84 and the 50m butterfly in 21.37respectively.

Bailee Beighton, of Bacton achieved four medals, three of which were silver and one bronze. His best was the 50m freestyle when he won silver in 42.14.

At the conclusion of the gala, Sam Watts lead coach to the Vikings said

“Our junior swimmers have progressed beyond all expectations recently as more youngsters continue to join our development squad.”

To join vikings e-mail them on  info@norfolkvikings.co.uk

 

 

Viking Swimmers start County Campaign early

Our swimmers have already started qualifying for the 2023 County Championships. They began in a gala dubbed “Midsummer Madness” held at the UEA Sports Park in Norwich when they achieved no fewer than 36 County Qualifying times in a team represented by 20  swimmers under the auspices of Lead Coach Sam Watts

 New signing, Ellen Eccleston of Aylsham gained three county qualifying times for next years’ championships when she made the grade in the 200m events. In the backstroke she scored a 2:43.81. and there was more success  in the freestyle when she picked up her second qualifier in 2:26.09. Her best race came when the 14 year old achieved a bronze medal in a qualifying time of 3:02.02 for the breaststroke which equivocally was not her best time.

Emily Morton has began to fulfill her ambition for next year’s County Championship The 13 year old also achieved the same weighting as Ellen with  three county qualifying times and in doing so won the bronze medal  over 400m freestyle when she hit the pad in 5:27.37 Her other two qualifiers were the 50m freestyle with her 32.83 and 38.69 over the same distance for her backstroke.

It was silver for Evie Bates who is swimming fluently at the moment. Evie took part in the 400m freestyle in the 11 year age group when she also achieved a County Qualifying time  finishing with a 6:42.93 for eight lengths of the 50m pool.

It was the 400m freestyle too for  Reuben Seaman when he took the gold medal in 7.22.22. This was the first time the 9 year old had swam this demanding event. However, Reuben went onto gain a silver in the 200m Individual Medley – the event where swimmers must swim all four strokes and he improved his time by four seconds when he completed the course in 3.57.77. More medals followed for Reuben, Silvers in both  the 100m freestyle (1:38.52) and 100m backstroke (1:45.24) respectively. Over the 50m sprints he was first in breatstroke (1;00.9) and second in the butterfly (54.11) respectively

However, Reuben was thwarted by fellow Viking Toby Caufield who edged him into silver medal spot for the 50m freestyle. Toby went 42.97 to take the gold over Reuben’s 44.35 and in the 50m backstroke, Toby aged 10, just pushed Reuben into third place when Toby won silver in 50.10 from Reuben’s 50.44  – a split second ahead. The event was easily won by Lawrence Taylor of Norwich in 42.91,however.

The other Viking medal winner was Zak Edridge who came third in the 100m breastroke in 1.42.82 an improvement of six seconds.

Amy-Rose Thomas swam her very best in the 50m freestyle by achieving a personal best over the course in 40.06 and the 13 year old demonstrated how she had improved her technique when she rose to the challenge over 200m Individual medley and looked very sharp. Although she finished in 18th place Amy-Rose went 3.36.71 and as this was her first attempt at the event.

William Coop took part in no fewer than 6 events and the way William is training at the moment it comes as no shock to see him progress. By far his best placing was in the 100m breaststroke when the 14 year old touched in 12 place with his best time of 1:48.64.  Ashley Jones came 22 out of a field 33 of but more significantly was his time of 30.84 which gave the 14 year old a ticket to enter next year’s County Championships in the 50m freestyle..

There was further improvement from 14 year old Maisie Fagan by 4 seconds over the 200m freestyle when she completed the course in 2.57.00.

County Qualifying times were also achieved by Toby Caufield, Reuben Seaman, Rosa Sadler, Harry Hudson, George & Zak Edridge.

The club was also represented by Emily & Bailee Beighton, Winnie Browne, Rebecca Burrows, Esme Seaman, Sean & Caelen Godden

Vikings achieved 36 County Qualifying Times, 3 golds, 9 silvers and 6 bronze medals

Well done to all who took part!

Worth their weight in gold

The team at Thetford              In the medals Emily Morton, Emily Beighton & Rebecca Burrows

Apparently the price of gold has risen lately but North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club have weighed in their gold already after the Warwick Thompson gala at Thetford when the club had 13 gold  medal successes. The price they received was not monetary for their medals but a just reward for their hard work, tenacity and diligence.

Reuben Seaman is swimming exceptionally well and for the last three outings he has developed some what of a Midas touch by achieving golds in all three. Thetford was no exception when he captured no fewer than five gold medals. The 9 year old from Aylsham took a huge 18 seconds off his 200m freestyle when he hit the pad in 3:35.71. Meanwhile, his elder sister Esme achieved a double silver in the 100m backstroke in 1:34.91 and in the 50m butterfly she went 51.28 respectively.

Emily Morton was on top form when the 14 year old took no fewer than four gold medals. In the 100m butterfly she not only won the gold but recorded the fastest time of the gala in I:22.65 faster than swimmers in older age groups. It was pretty much same again in the 50m freestyle when Emily again destroyed a field of forty one to record the best time over all in 31.42  .Her gold winning age group time in the 100m freestyle was the third fastest time out of all forty nine competitors when she recorded a 1:09.67. To complete the gold medal quartet she reverted back to butterfly again easily winning her 50m in 36.31.

“I think I may have been able to swim faster,so I need to concentrate more on my times rather than coming first,” remarked Emily when asked about her success. “I would really like to get a county qualifying time this year” she added.

The other Emily, Emily Beighton  came from behind to take top spot in the 200m breaststroke when she tussled with Daniel Myers of Thetford Dolphins. It was Daniel who was slightly ahead up until the last 150m but with a determined push to the finish, Emily just squeezed ahead finishing  3:31.60 over Daniel’s 3:35.95 respectively.

As expected, sibling rivalries between twin brothers, George and Zak Edridge were rejuvenated and in an exciting 200m breaststroke, Zak took the bronze medal in 3:56.34 at the expense of his brother’s agonising disqualification.  Thetford’s Roger Britcher was the worthy winner of the event in 3:33.38. However George was not deterred by this and reverting to freestyle over 100m he won gold in 1:17.52 as the two 13 year olds from Tunstead took home no fewer than 5 medals between them.

Club Captain Rebecca Burrows of Rackheath  claimed a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke in 1:17.96 from Spike Campbell-Maughan of the west Norfolk. club who was two seconds ahead of Rebecca at 50m and finished by the same margin on the final touch. However, Rebecca was not finished as the 14 year old Broadland High School student in Horning, achieved a hat-trick of bronze medals. The 100m freestyle with 1:17.96, the 200m breaststroke in 3:41.13 and the 200m backstroke in 3:03.96.

Senior, Ruby Tracey took time out from her GCSE’S to make the most of an opportunity to add another gold to her all time tally over 50m breaststroke in 39.98 . In contrast and after a lot of patience and perseverance, 11 year old Winnie Brown got her very first first medal for the club when she won the bronze  over 50m backstroke with 46.15.  and followed it up almost immediately, this time a silver in the 50m freestyle in 41.02.

There was a bronze medal apiece for both Rosa Sadler and Bailee Beighton. Rosa came third in the 50m freestyle in 47.16 and Bailee in the  100m backstroke with 1:48.71 respectively. Rasvan Platon represented Vikings in the 50m freestyle ( 44.08)  and the 50n backstroke respectively (48.37)

Vikings won 13 golds  7 silvers and 11 bronze medals

A special thank to all the swimmers who competed. If you’re not in it – you can’t win it.

First Medalists   Winnie Browne                    Rosa Sadler

TRIPLE GOLDS FOR LILY MOTIVATES MEDAL MANIA AT GALA

 

Lily Dear of  Mundsley  achieved a hat-trick of gold medals at the UEA in a development gala promoted by Great Yarmouth Swimming Club.

In a very close 50m freestyle, Lilly just out touched Anita Edelinski of Great Yarmouth by just under a second to capture her first gold. However her second success was the 50m breaststroke which the 10 year old easily won when she went four seconds faster than her best to win in 54.60 and ironically beating runner up Charlotte Dev-Sherman of the Norwich Swan Club by the same margin. In the 50m backstroke, Lilly was the clear winner in 49.53 from fellow Viking Grace Parker’s 52.16 who took a well earned silver.

There was a pleasant surprise when debutant Isla Cartwright took a double gold. In the 25m freestyle, the 8 year old brought it home in 24.85 with an outstanding ten second margin but in the 25m backstroke only the electronic timing could separate her and team mate Edith Hopkins when Isla won in 28.47 from Edith’s silver medal time of 28.66 respectively.

Vikings took back to back wins in the over 11 year age group on 25m butterfly in both the boys’ and girls’ races. Team Captain Bebe King scored 21.88 in a close race and Razvan Platon won in 26.23. It was a double gold too for 9 year old Reuben Seaman of Aylsham in the 50m backstroke with 49.37 and 51.86 for his butterfly over the same distance. Single golds were awarded to  Baille Beighten of Bacton in the 25m breaststroke in 32.46 and new comer to the club Mimi Hinton-Upward 31.91  also over the same distance respectively..

With the addition of Toby Caufield, Rosa Sadler, Layla Callaby and Amiyah Hawes in the team, the Vikings won 11 Golds,7 Silvers and 5 Bronze Medals. The most medals in any one gala for a long time.

Note – The club has since  received the following comment from a parent

She had the best time on Saturday, not because of the medals, she just really enjoyed the whole event. I think it’s given her a real confidence boost. I felt so proud of the whole club, and was very impressed with the coaches and all from vikings who helped out. They all did the club proud! It was a great event and a great day to be part of.

Regional Round Up 22

Silver Lining For Isaac

Isaac achieved a silver medal in the 800m freestyle in the Regional Championships despite having a tough week end at Luton. Isaac, who is in his last year at Beeston Hall School qualified for the competition in no fewer than six events.

The thirteen year old looked a definite threat in the 200m when he came fourth, just 0.5 out side the medals with his 2.25.80 but after putting that disappointment behind him, he swam a personal best in 10.42.61 to take the silver.

Michael Sayer of Holt was also in action when he went 3:05.09 in the 200m backstroke 8 seconds ahead of his winning time in the County Championships but was still outside the medals. However, Michael,aged 11 has had a very productive season in the pool and looks promising for the future. 

Regional races prove to be tough for duo

Leah Harris and club captain Harry Hudson qualified and swam in  the first week end of Swim England’s Eastern Regional Championships held at the UEA Norwich. However both swimmers found the going tough.

Leah felt her 100m freestyle race was her best race out of four events she competed in., Leah was first in her heat with a  long course personal best time of 1:02.32, coming twenty first out of forty four in her age group of 17 years and over; with four seconds separating her and the eventual winner, Sacha Thomas of the City of Norwich who went 0:58.30. in the final.

This year will mark Leah’s  twelfth year with the club. Leah – who is now 18 years old, from Cromer – started swimming at Splash (now the Reef) in Sheringham when  was 6.  She then moved to North Norfolk Vikings Learn to Swim at Cromer when she was 8, having lessons with Callum Lawson, who was the Vikings Head Coach at the time and an ex Paralympian.  Leah then moved  to club swimming and started competing at the age of 10 and is still competing and setting an excellent example to younger swimmers.

Harry,  aged 17, from Smallbough near Stalham  put in a stoic efforts to qualify in two events. In the 50m butterfly he hit the pad in 28.38  and in the 50m freestyle he went  26.10 opposed to the 32.83 recorded by winner Theo Cannon of Cambridge. Although he did not medal he was only a few seconds behind the medal winners. Harry was up against a field of eighty six competitors

Leah 50 free 29.34  50 breast 38.41  100 free 1.02.32  100m Fly 1.11.35

Harry 50 free 26.10   50 Fly. 28.38

A message from Roxanne…

“All our amazing new kit is in from LogoWear Ltd!! If people would like to drop in to Victory this Sunday 4-6pm you are more than welcome to collect for me if not I will organise collections during other sessions Thank you for your patience.” Roxanne

Gold Rush For Vikings 

It was the time for the junior swimmers of the North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club to deliver their very best when they travelled to compete in Diss in a team of sixteen, ages ranging from seven to eleven.  For some it was their first experience of competition.

Nerves faded quickly right from the first event when  Reuben Seaman of Aylsham got vikings off to the perfect start by winning gold in the 100m Individual medley in 1:49.0 His elder sister Esme, immediately followed with another Viking gold over the same event finishing the course in 1:35.73. The decisive element of her swim was her butterfly as she breathed every five strokes which pulled her to the front after the first leg of the event. A technique which she repeated twice more when she gained two more gold medals for the stroke; 25m in 21.31 and 50m in 47.72 respectively.Reuben,meanwhile was busy again  with two more gold medals; the  25m freestyle (18.47) and the 50m freestyle (44.19) respectively.

Debutants Evie Bates, Bebe King and Razvan Platon  all won a gold medal. Evie had a close race in her age group when she touched first in 0:17.31 in winning the 25m freestyle by just three, one hundredths of a second from Elizabeth Ferrier of Diss Otters. Evie, from Sheringham, went on to win bronze in the 50m event in 0:39.76

Bebe’s 50m backstroke was also close when the eleven year old from North Walsham  touched the wall first in 0:46.97 from Great Yarmouth’s Jessica Hurren’s 0:47.19. There was a double delight for vikings when Lily Dear captured the bronze in 0:52.82. in the same event.

Razvan – who makes a round trip of  twenty – eight miles to train at the Victory pool in North Walsham – won gold  in the corresponding boys event in 51.51 to add to his bronze medal he achieved in the 50m freestyle in 0.43.67.

Bailee Beighton achieved a hat-trick of silver medals. The 25m freestyle in 0:19.18, 25m breaststroke, 0:29.92 and the 50m freestyle with 0:42.56 and seven year old Annie Jackson, Vikings’ youngest competitor took her first medal home when she came third in the 25m butterfly in 0:41.71

Amiya Hawes, Clara Farrow, Grace Parker, Isobel Chaplin, India Morton, Layla Callaby and Rosa Sadler were also part of a strong viking line up. Vikings won 11 golds 6 silvers and 4 bronze medals.

 

 

 

Silver Hallmarks For Leah & Katy

Leah Harris of Cromer and Katy Coleman of Mundsley came away with two silver medals each at the City of Norwich Swim Meeting held at the UEA, when they swam for the North Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club.

Leah came second in the 100m butterfly in 1:11.54 from Rebecca Smith’s 1:10.75 of the Norwich Swan Club in a tight finish. During the100m freestyle It is was another close finish as she was just out touched by Charlotte Smith, also of Norwich Swan, in 1:03.35 from Charlotte’s 1:02.40. There was more success for the young eighteen year old adult when Leah won two bronze medals. In the 50m butterfly with 0:31.16, against a field of twenty eight and the 50m freestyle in 29.19 against thirty seven competitors respectively.

Meanwhile, the middle distances favoured Katy over 200m  Her first silver was achieved In the butterfly in 2:50.32 finishing behind her name sake Jasmine Coleman of Norwich Swan who completed the course in 2:45.17. In the backstroke, the  seventeen year old was runner up in 2:44.78 behind Norwich Swan’s Shannon Stubbs’ 2:39.70

There were more medal success for Vikings at both ends of the age range with eleven year old Reuben Seaman who broke a minute for the 100m breaststroke in 0:59.97  and seventeen year old Harry Hudson in the 50m  butterfly in 27.90  both of whom won bronze medals respectively

Vikings also had a number of top eight places. Emily Beighton 200m breaststroke 3.37.82 sixth. Chloe Jackson 100m freestyle 1.14.91 eighth. Rebecca Burrows, 400m freestyle 6.02.45 eighth. Emily Morton 100m backstroke 1:28.03 sixth and the Edridge twins Zak 1:47.80sixth and George 1:52.07 seventh  over the 100m breastroke respectively Vikings were also represented by Winnie Brown, Jess Seamark, Amy-Rose Thomas, Ruby Tracey, Bailee Beighton, Esme Seaman, Maisie Fagan and Sophie McKee.

Vikings Success as County Championships rejuvenated after covid.

Norfolk Vikings Swimming Club had considerable success at the County Championships held for the first time since 2020 at the UEA pool, Norwich.

Leah Harris of Cromer swam 29.34  to a silver medal in the 50m freestyle. In the 100m freestyle she was down in seventh in 1:02.93 but ironically the time subsequently qualified her for the Regional Championships in the summer.

Broadland High School Year 11 student, Sophie McKee came home with two bronze medals, the 50m freestyle in 29.78 and 100m backstroke 1:16.98 respectively. It was bronze too in the 200m backstroke for 17 year old Katy Coleman of Mundsley, when she finished in 2:44.69

Harry Hudson has also qualified for the Regionals when he scored 27.78 for the 50m butterfly although he finished in eighth position. With seven others ahead of him , all of whom hit regional times, it provides ample evidence as to the fierce competition to what Harry and indeed Leah faced.

Michael, Isaac and Noah triumph 

Michael Sayer and Noah Buchan each became multi county age group champions.   Michael from Holt, was three seconds ahead at the half way point of the 200m Individual Medley. However, it was ironically Noah who pushed Michael all the way, but Michael held on well with his strong freestyle leg to finish in 3:22.98 as Noah touched over a second behind to become runner up in the 11 year age group category.

Michael then made it a clean sweep of all the backstroke events and was victorious for the second time in the 50m backstroke when he just out touched James O’Toole of the City of Norwich Club , with 41.27 from the 41.55 recorded by James and subsequently defeated no fewer than nineteen in his respective age group. If this was not enough, he added a third age group title when he again just crept ahead of James at the conclusion of the the 100m in 1:31.02 and rounded off his backstroke events with the 200m finishing the 50m long course event in 3:13.69.

Noah,from Beeston Regis, beat a field of sixteen in the 200m freestyle to finish in 2:49.65 – a clear margin of fifteen seconds from second placed James.  It was freestyle again and gold again when Noah was the winner of the 400m in 6:12.19.  He went on to be runner up in the 50m freestyle when he hit the pad in 36.27 just behind Josh Read also of the City of Norwich Club. In the 100m freestyle Noah swam very well by taking another second place only to see the score board reveal that it was again Michael Sayer who had won the event in  1:23.62  respectively to earn Michael his fifth gold medal of the championships

Noah’s elder brother Isaac won his 13 Years 400m freestyle in 5:13.51. He captured a  silver in the 200m backstroke with his 2:53.93 behind Travis Viotman of the City of Norwich Club. He continued to achieve three bronze medals the 100m freestyle in 1:09.77. 50m Butterfly 35.74 and 50m backstroke in 36.11.Through out the championships,

Ashley Jones came second in his heat of the 50m freeestyle in 30.22.  Chloe Jackson, Reuben Seaman, George and Zak Edridge were also apart of the team. Reuben improved his 50 butterfly time by thirteen seconds when he finished in 54.66. in the 11 year age group race.

Vikings won eight golds, five silvers and seven bronze medals.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR SWIMMERS!

 

Michael Sayer Five Gold Medals