Royals rumble on alongside the best
RUSHMOOR Royals kicked up a storm at the International Meet in Manchester where they saw themselves racing against some of Britain’s best swimmers – and clearly turning heads.
George Emmins (50m fly), Sarah Tripp (50m & 100m breaststroke) and Angharad Eburne (100m breaststroke) led the way for the Royals, all smashing their personal best times in the heats to secure their places in the finals.
George swam the race of his life to touch in a time of 25.58, to earn himself a silver medal – a feat then repeated by Sarah, who also smashed her 100m lifetime best for in a time of 1.13.23.
And not to be outdone, Angharad’s 100m breaststroke saw her come up against Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Ruta Meiluyte but she touched in a very impressive 1.12.93, in sixth place beating swimmers in the senior final.
Lara Charlton, 15, also clocked a lifetime best in the 50m backstroke heat, then swam another (30.6) to take bronze in the junior final.
This was then followed by the Royals’ first two relay team events with Emma Tripp, Sarah Tripp, Alice Lim and Grace Kinnell going in the ladies 400m Individual Medley.
Cash prizes were on offer for the top five teams and the girls smashed their way into the final for the first time in the club’s history and placed sixth in a time of 4.27.34.
This was then followed by the men’s medley relay of Ollie Weedon, Dan Richards, George Emmins, and Connor Brunt, who also gave it everything to finish ninth.
Conner then showed fine form in the individual event, going up against British record holder, Ben Proud, and smashing his start finishing with a time of 24.15 – a huge step up from his achievements at the British Championships in Glasgow.
The final batch of relays, the mens’ and womens’ 4x100m freestyle, saw both reach the final. The ladies, consisting of Alice Lim (60.87 PB), Angharad Eburne (60.14 PB), Sarah Tripp (61.98), and Grace Kinnell finishing ninth and the men of Connor Brunt (54.37), Elliot Broad (54.12 PB), Jamie Cunningham (53.82 PB) and Kieran Brunt (53.42 PB) seventh.