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
