Category: Sports News

A squad of some 21 swimmers across all the groups from Thame Swimming Club attended the Wycombe District BC Long Course Meet over the weekend of Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19, under the guidance of coaches Mark Simms and Iain Phillips on the Saturday, and Ian Blyth and Simon Haarburger on the Sunday.

Spokesperson for Thame Swimming Club, Helen Williams, said: “For some swimmers it was their first ever gala and for some it was their first time swimming long course.
The swimmers were all on fire with an abundance of PBs and medals in evidence! A very big well done to all.

“Very excitingly we achieved the status of Top Visiting Club for the Girls (out of 14 other Clubs) and we were third for the boys. The Girls won 254 points across the weekend, outperforming Windsor who came in secondnd place with 205 points.

“A few notable swims and call-outs:

· Jack Allman for winning medals in his first ever gala for Thame – and a 50m pool too J Excellent swimming Jack!
· Thomas Collins for swimming under a minute in his 50 Breaststroke and winning a Gold medal in his 50m Free, despite his goggles snapping before
the race and swimming it goggleless. What a great spirit Thomas!
· Ben Mould for taking a massive 12 seconds off his entry time for his 200 Free. Fabulous Ben!
· Martha Block for taking an amazing 24 seconds off her 100 Breaststroke and winning the Silver medal – brilliant Martha J
· Katelin Phillips, Kate Collins and Flora Kershaw for taking over 20 seconds off their 200 Free time.
· Tally Simms for taking a huge 15 seconds off her 200 IM time – whoop!

“I would also like to take this opportunity to say huge congratulations to Tom Goetz for winning two Gold medals in his last ever gala for Thame. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Tom for his commitment to the Club, being one of the original swimmers when the Club first evolved. We wish you well in your future studies Tom.

“Thank you to Melissa Simms and Marcus Birmingham for Team Managing and to those parents who gave up their time to officiate, as ever it’s hugely appreciated.”

LEAGUE leaders Chinnor welcomed Cinderford to Kingsey Road yesterday (18/02) with the visitors bang in form, having not lost for over two months.

Full of confidence, the Gloucestershire side fancied their chances of claiming an eighth straight win and derailing Chinnor’s title hopes.

In a game of two very different halves, early Chinnor pressure saw a crash ball try for centre, Charlie Broughton, who went in under the posts after six minutes converted by Bentley for 7-0.

The visitors replied straight from the restart with a try in the corner by winger Harry Robinson. Full back, James Moffat, missed the extras but made up for it a few minutes later by intercepting a Chinnor attack and running fully 80 metres to go in under the posts. He converted his own try for 7-12 lead after 18 minutes.

From the restart, Cinderford, who were comfortable and confident in their own game, turned the Chinnor ball over and pushed back up field. Harry Robinson picked up from the ensuing ruck and ran down the blindside unchallenged to score his second try of the afternoon. Moffat missed the conversion but their lead was extended to 17-7.

A stunned Chinnor needed to up their game but despite having the bulk of possession and territory for the remainder of the half, Cinderford’s defence was outstanding and kept them out until the last minute when a Jonny Bentley penalty made it 17-10 at the interval.

Early Chinnor pressure after the break led to a succession of pick and drives in the visitor’s 22, and a second Bentley penalty under the posts narrowed the score to 17-13.

Liam Hemming missed a long-range penalty shortly after the restart for Cinderford, and Chinnor came storming back with a superb second try by Charlie Broughton after an incisive break from full back Kieran Goss. The conversion was missed by Bentley for an 18-17 lead to Chinnor.

The hosts were now in full flow and after several phases of play and an impressive line break by prop Jay Tyack, Ben Manning went over. The referee instead awarded a penalty try for a high tackle in the act of scoring although this went unconverted. Chinnor now led 23-17 with 15 minutes remaining.

Chinnor’s fourth and bonus point try came after 71 minutes when scrum half Josh Davies swooped over from a 5 metre scrum and gave the hosts a two score margin 28-17.

The try of the game came with four minutes left when a Cinderford clearance kick was collected by the outstanding Kieran Goss in his own half and with seemingly nothing on glided through the Cinderford defence to score near the posts.

Bertie Hopkin converted the extras but the Villagers weren’t quite done. Straight from the restart in the last minute, Chinnor broke from a ruck and Star man Josh Davies went in for his second try. Hopkin again converted and that’s how it finished 42-17.

Great credit to both sides for a tremendous game. Cinderford were terrific in the first half but Chinnor turned it around after the break with five unanswered tries which sent the majority of the bumper crowd home happy!

Teams

Chinnor
Kieran Goss, Luke Hibberd, Danny Barnes ©, Charlie Broughton, Henry Lamont, Jonny Bentley, Josh Davies, Tom Price, Mark Darlington, Joe Hutchinson, Nathan Hannay, CJ Osazuwa, Ben Pienaar, Alex Bradley, Tom Burns

Interchanges: Jay Tyack, Koree Britton, Ben Manning, Bertie Hopkin, Junior Fatialofa

Cinderford
James Moffat, Harrison Yorke, Sam Goatley, Rob Winchle, Harry Robinson, Liam Hemming, Alex Frame, George Porter ©, Henry Walker, James Tideswell, Dale Lemon, Ed King, Jack Shields, Will Keenan, George Evans

Interchanges: Ciaran Knight, Joe Smart, Adam Balding, Aaron Ryan, Reuben Norville

Scorers
Chinnor
Tries (time): Broughton 5, 53, Penalty 63, Davies 71, 79 Goss 76
Conversions (time): Bentley 6, Hopkin 77, 80
Penalty Goals (time): Bentley 40, 45

Cinderford
Tries (time): Robinson 10, 22, Moffat 15
Conversions (time): Moffat 16
Penalty Goals (time):

Referee: Mr Philip Davies
Attendance: 843
Half time score: 10-17
Full time score: 42-17
Star man: Josh Davies – Chinnor

SOURCE: Contributed by Richard Jarvis

AT the Club’s AGM on Friday (Feb 10),  Angus Lachlan announced that that he was standing down as Club Chairman for 2017, and the meeting unanimously elected Matt Swain to succeed him. Angus is replacing Matt as Vice-Chairman.

Angus said: “I have been privileged to hold the position of Chairman for 10 years, succeeding Acting Chairman Rob Brooks following the untimely death of previous Chairman, John Fulkes in 2004. I have enjoyed my time immensely as the Club has gone through huge changes in the last 10 years. We have grown the membership and Club’s finances year on year, culminating in the planning of our new Clubhouse development which Matt, myself and the rest of the Committee are taking forward.”

New Chairman, Matt Swain, confirmed that a tender package for the Clubhouse development would be ready in April.” This is a magnificent opportunity for a local construction company to help build this major community facility,” he added. On the day to day club matters he said: “We are lucky to have a stable and dedicated Club Committee to run our expanding activities. My priorities as Chairman will be to continue to grow club membership and develop our close relationships with Thame’s community, the Town Council, Lord Williams’ School and the town’s primary schools.”

Matt gave a detailed presentation to the meeting of the new Clubhouse project, and confirmed that the Club’s very successful ‘Buy A Brick’ scheme will run through 2017.

Visit the club’s website by linking HERE or for further information on this and the new building, contact enquiries@thamecricket.org.uk or chairman@thamecricket.org.uk

AS well as half-term events for kids (click HERE for details), Racquets Fitness Centre and Squash Academy has a very full programme of tournements for all ages and ability coming up in the next three months:

JUNIOR One-Day Squash Tournament – Saturday, March 11 – Another fun one-day squash tournament. For the competitive it’s a practice for the sanctioned event a few weeks later. For everyone else a fun but competitive afternoon playing others of the same standard. Enter on the noticeboard at the club. http://www.racquets-fitness-centre.com/

Ladies’ Squash Festival – Sunday, March 12,
A Sunday afternoon where the ladies who play and the ladies who’d like to give squash a go, get some coaching and playing while the kids are occupied with a creche and craft workshop. Speak to Sue Martin Downhill at Racquets for more information.

Racquets Bronze Sanctioned Junior Open – Saturday and Sunday, March 18 & 19 
Enter now by linking HERE – speak to Sue or Simon if you are new to squash.

Squash Doubles Tournament – Saturday and Sunday, April 22 & 23
Enter now HERE – all standards welcome – speak to Sue or Simon if unsure

Oxfordshire Squash Graded Tournament – Saturday and Sunday, May 20 & 21
Another date for your diaries, keep an eye open for when sign ups are open – a tournament designed for all standards

YOUNG Fencers from Thame Duellists Fencing Club had their first taste of international competition at the CEP Challenge tournament in Paris at the weekend, January 29.

The well-established Paris event regularly attracts huge fields of junior fencers from all over the world and this year was no exception, with fencers from every continent present. What was new was the presence of Hal Seed and Darcy Herring Johnson of Thame Duellists Fencing Club in the Boys’ and Girls’ Under-14 events respectively, getting their first taste of international competition.

The competition, run over two demanding days of fencing, was intense and neither Hal nor Darcy was able to progress beyond the first day’s fencing, with Hal one of seven British fencers to be eliminated from the Boys’ under 14 event on the first day, and Darcy one of five British competitors to face the same fate in the Girls’ event. Both Hal, 12, and Darcy, 11, were younger than many of their opponents in the Under-14 event.

However, both picked up a victory over the course of the day’s fencing, and both will have been buoyed by having qualified for the British Youth Championships at the Southern Regional qualifying event the previous weekend. At the qualifying tournament Hal matched his sixth place finish in the Boys’ Under-12 event last year with the same result in the Under-14s this year, while Darcy, who also fences for Oxford Fencing Club, finished seventh in the Girls’ Under-12s and booked her own place at the national championships, which take place at the beginning of May in Sheffield. Also representing Thame at the regional event was James Evans (14), who finished fourteenth in the Boy’s Under-16 event in his first competition.

There was better news from Paris for fencers from the region, with Heloise Hardie of Oxford being the best placed British fencer in the Girls’ under 17 event, finishing 44th after two gruelling days of competition.

SOURCE: Contributed

RACQUETS Squash Academy juniors blew competitors out of the water last weekend, taking first place in two out of three categories in a one-day tournament at Racquets Fitness centre in Thame.

On Saturday, January 28, 16 junior squash players from all over the South Region, ranging from beginner/intermediate level to county level participated in the tournament.

In the junior grade C category, consisting of eight players of similar ability, Mac Readman who has been playing squash at Racquets for a number of years now, really came into his own showing off his full potential against his fellow competitors. He ‘sailed’ through the tournament without dropping a single game and it was clear to see that he has the capability to compete with the more advanced players if he keeps working hard at his game. Alex Glover, who has been playing in the Racquets academy for just over a month now, was runner up in this category. The academy is allowing Alex to improve his game at a rapid rate as he is now playing between three and four days a week and getting coaching specific to his game by the likes of Sue Martin-Downhill and Ben Hedger, both qualified squash coaches.

In junior grade B, Abingdon junior, Alex Smith, proved to be too strong for the juniors at racquets, not dropping a single game, but was graceful in his wins. It was a great to see another junior in Oxfordshire improving their game. Silas Glover, another Racquets developing player, was runner up, not able to beat one of his fellow competitors who he previously had lost to in the past.

Six players in the junior grade A category, played a round robin, a format of play where each player had to play against every other competitor in their category. This allowed for plenty of match time for all the players, and allowed for a more accurate representation of who the winner would be. James Portsmouth, another junior at Racquets who is also in the Racquets junior academy, played out of his skin, not dropping a single game to any of his opponents. Revenge was in his mind from losing out on victory in the previous tournament in December, so he went into this tournament hungry and raring to go. He was able to beat players that he had lost to previously which shows how much his game is coming on in such a short period of time.

Wendover junior, Ben Randrup, was runner up, just losing out on first place by a few points. As well as training at Wendover, Ben has been attending junior training at Racquets once a week for just over two months and is also receiving private coaching by Racquets coach, Ben Hedger.

For more information about playing squash from young age or starting later in life, please contact Sue, Simon or Ben at Racquets Fitness Centre on 01844 261754.

SOURCE – Contributed

MEMBERS of Thame Swimming Club have been celebrating a constellation of successes and achievements over the past year, with Guest of Honour, Linda Emery, the Mayor or Thame, who opened the club’s special evening and presented the awards.

Club spokesperson, Helen Williams, said: “The event was held at Lord Williams’s Lower School which again seemed to be the perfect location to host our annual event. The food was delicious and plentiful and the atmosphere was buzzing!

“The evening was about our amazing swimmers and it started with a review of the key highlights from 2016 covering local galas, open water events, Counties, Regionals and Nationals; charity events such the Swimathon and Santa Sleigh; fun events like the Aquathlon and Thame Town Carnival and another successful swim camp to Torremolinos.

“The coaches then presented the swimmers with their achievement plates from Club Champs. Helen Birmingham presented the Tom Birmingham Skins awards, in memory of coach Tom Birmingham, to the winners Elizabeth Humphreys and Ben Williams. Team GB were then presented their awards and prizes by David, Caroline and George Finch, as winners of the Will Finch Breaststroke Canon Relay, in memory of Will Finch who passed away in 2015. Well done to Martha Block, Thomas Collins, Lucy Block, Dominic Loughran, Flora Kershaw, Josh Williams, Laura Creswell, Harry Block, Ellen Ludlow and Will Simpkins.”

The Coaches awards for the Top Boy and Top Girl in each Group were awarded to:

	Girls	Boys
Group 1	Sacha Livingston	Josh Boddy
Group 2	Tally Simms	Murray Wakefield
Group 3	Lucy Block	Oscar North
Group 4	Ella Simms	Josh Williams

UCare Most Committed Award: awarded to Louis Withers for continuing to swim with a smile despite challenging times.
Rob Brooks Most Improved Award: awarded to Lucy Block with a 7.63% improvement, followed by Oscar North and Jacob North.
Simon Burnett Most Competitive Award: awarded to Josh Williams with a whopping 726 points followed by Ben Williams and Elizabeth Humphreys.

TWENTY teams have now booked all available slots for the Thame Swimathon 2017. Any new team entry forms will be put on hold onto a waiting list. The fifth edition of the Thame Swimathon will take place at Thame Leisure Centre on Sunday, February 26, 2017, from 11:00 till 15:00.

This is a fun and fundraising event organised by the Rotary Club of Thame. The event is possible due to generous local sponsors who kindly cover most of the costs: Thame Leisure Centre, Park Street Dental Clinic, Aston Hearing, Booker Tate, and Ignite Sport.

Most of the teams have taken the option to allocate 50% of the money raised towards their favourite cause, and 50% towards Thame Rotary’s local charities: Red Kite Children’s Centre, Wheel Power, and Hope and Homes for Children.

Thame Swimming Club will participate with nine teams at the Thame Swimathon 2017, raising funds for their own club. Linda Newton, Thame Swimming Club spokeswoman said: “The Thame Rotary Swimathon is a highlight of the year for many swimmers, as it gives them a chance to work as a team, support both Thame Swimming Club and local charities, and have a lot of fun along the way too!”

Donations towards one of the nine Thame Swimming Club teams can be made online via:
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/lucyandisabel1

All other My Donate links to teams which fundraise online can be found at www.thame.rotary1090.org
Rotary Club of Thame can be also followed on www.facebook.com/thamerotary

THAME Town Cricket Club’s winter nets for men from the age of 16 upwards, will start at Lord Williams’s Lower School gym on Sunday, January 29, from 5pm to 6pm.

Contact Andy Jinman via: marketing@thamecricket.org.uk or call 07968201152.