1066 Celebrate County and Regional Success

As the summer lull sets into the swimming calendar, 1066 Swimmers are still celebrating what has been a successful initial 6 months of the year.

In March, ten swimmers from the local club competed in the Junior County Championships at Crawley. Amongst the many successes of that meet, five of the club's senior swimming squad were crowned county champions. Ella Watson, Ellie Williams, Charlotte Rouncivell and Victoria Turner gained the girls 16 and under Medley team crown in a new County Championship record time. This was swiftly followed by Adam Rouncivell taking the title of Junior County Champion in the 50m Freestyle in a national qualifying time.

In May and June, several of those county swimmers also competed at the South East Region Age Group and Youth Championships.

13 year-old Ella Watson led the 1066 onslaught gaining silver in the Girls Age 13 100m breaststroke and bronze in the 200m breaststroke. 12 year-old Lucy Howes claimed a creditable 32nd placing in the Girls Age 12 100m freestyle and 27th in the 200m freestyle. Ryan Lee, the only 1066 boy at the age group championships, swam well to finish 32nd in the Boys Age 13 100m freestyle.

The club were also justifiably proud of the swims executed by Adam, Charlotte and Ellie at the Youth Championships in Portsmouth. The 1066 trio came away with well-earned placings in their age groups:
Ellie Williams gained 4th place in the female 14/15 years 50m butterfly final, 7th in the female 14/15 years 100m freestyle final and gained creditable placings and times in the heats of the 50m and 100m backstroke, 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly. Close friend, Charlotte Rouncivell swam well in the 50m backstroke heats to gain a place in the final where she bettered her heat time by over half a second to gain 6th place. Charlotte also gained good times and placings in the heats of the 100m backstroke, 50m and 100m freestyle. 16 year-old Adam Rouncivell swam in the final of the male 15/16 years 50m butterfly final and gained 4th place, claimed 5th place in the 100m freestyle final and picked up bronzes in the 15/16 years finals of 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle as well as securing good swims in the heats of the 100m butterfly.

At the county awards ceremony in June the 1066 quarter of Ella, Ellie, Charlotte and Adam were there to collect their county championship trophies (pictured).

To end the first half of the year on a high, not only did 1066 Swimmers gain promotion to Division 1 of next year's Sussex League, they also sent 16 year-old Adam and 13 year-old Ella off to the ASA National Championships in Sheffield where they competed against elite swimmers from all over the country. Having gained the qualifying time necessary for entry both swimmers achieved well-deserved results from their individual swims, Adam competing in the 50m freestyle and Ella in 100m and 200m breaststroke.

Finally 1066 are pleased to announce that Adam Rouncivell, Charlotte Rouncivell, Ella Watson and Ellie Williams have been selected for the County Squads for 2010-11 and pass on their congratulations to the quartet. Chair Dave Bishop said "We are extremely privileged to have all these successes from a small club in a remote coastal town in Sussex. Many congratulations to these swimmers on their successes so far this year at county, regional and national level and our thanks go not only to the swimmers but to the coaches, teachers, officials and parents for all their support. I look forward to the next 6 months of continuing success for this amazing club."