Reading Royals take top spot after City of Bristol have points deducted

Reading Royals A were crowned 13-15 years free team routine champions after City of Bristol were deducted two points which cost them the gold medal.

City of Bristol’s team of Abbey Willcox, Cajsa Jonsson, Hollie Milsom, Isabelle Bowyer, Kiran Ubhi, Laurel Allen, Lilly Todd, Rhiannon Hobs, Sarah Perks and Zoe Dimond were on top of the podium with a score of 123.5457.

But they were judged to have performed too many acrobatic lifts in their routine at Gloucester’s GL1 Leisure Centre and were docked two points, which dropped them down to third place with a score of 121.5457.

That allowed Reading Royals’ A team of Rachael Newman, Tara Dakovic, Beatrice Cross, Molly Sexton, Lottie Moghul, Martha Crowland, Rebecca Saunders, Madeleine Brown and Amelia Gelder to take the Swim England Synchronised Swimming National Age Group title with 123.3864 points.

It turned out to be a one-two for Reading as their B team of Madison Squire, Jessica Smith, Eleanor Blinkhorn, Mia Palmer, Claudia Connellan, Emilia Wood, Alexandra Thickett, Madeleine Staples and Charlie Razzell scored 122.9038 to take the silver medal.

Royals at the double to deny Hampson clean sweep

In the 15-18 years free team competition, Reading Royals claimed their second gold medallion the free team routine competition by the narrowest of margins.

They beat City of Bristol to the top spot by 0.0637 after finishing with a combined total of 135.0744.

The team of Harriette Smith, Isabel Turrell, Teri-Faye Coupar, Abigail Taylor, Daisy Gunn, Cerys Larsen, Isobel Blinkhorn, Alyssa Basinger and Victoria Usher scored 70.8333 for their routine to add to their figures total of 64.2411 to take top spot.

Their victory denied City of Bristol’s Greta Hampson a clean sweep of medals over the weekend.

Hampson had claimed a hat-trick of first places with victory in the figures, solo and alongside Daniella Lloyd in the duet event.

But she had to settle for silver as she and Abby Foster, Anna Sledge, Cerys Hughes, Lloyd, Evie Garrett, Grace Cruickshank, Olivia Hall and Innez Merrett finished second with scores of 70.700 for the routine and 64.3107 fo an overall total 135.0107.

Hampson said: “It’s been really busy this year and this weekend is the cherry on top of the cake really. It’s been the most successful year of my synchro career – it’s been amazing and I have made so many good memories.

“I’m starting in the senior GB ranks in January and there is always room to improve.”

City of Leeds were the bronze medallists despite initially being docked points.

Millicent Costello, Daisy Rushton, Isobel Davies, Olivia Burton, Bethany Caudwell, Niamh Cooper, Jessica Arnold, Prudence Hubbard and Catherine Porter did hold third place for Leeds with a score of 126.8144.

But they had a penalty imposed which saw them drop below Belgian club VZW Center of Excellence’s total of 125.6539.

However, Leeds were successful with an appeal against the points deduction following a video review and were eventually awarded the bronze medal.

VZW’s team of Philine Van Tieghem, Emma Van Hulle, Nina Buffel, Babette Gillemon, Aube Wastyn, Claudia Nysen, Zazie Pirotte, Juliette Vienne, Lucie Martin and Sarah Harmegnies scored 65.3000 for their routine and 60.3539 in the figures to take fourth spot.

London Regional continue impressive form

In the 12 years and under free team contest, London Regional continued their impressive weekend form to take the gold medal with an overall points total of 117.7869

Aisling Khan, Anabelle Sangiorgio, Carla Pietrafesa, Jessica Hinxman, Lily Halasi – who had felt well enough to compete after missing the duets through illness – Milan Kadrok, Ola Czarnowska, Olivija Urbonaite and Shamelah Nanton finished with a total of 58.8333 for their routine.

That was 3.3 points clear of silver medallists Rugby whose line up of Bethany Masters, Elizabeth Elliott, Eve Young, Imogen Ravenhall, India Townsend, Josephine Mozley, Lauren Coward, Lola Dudkowsky, Olivia Tyers and Tia Faulkner scored 55.5333 in the routine and 55.0916 in the figures for a total of 110.6249.

Reading Royals team of Beatrice Askar, Cara Zeidler, Florence Blinkhorn, Francesca Pringle, Isabella Vorster, Louisa Horlock, Naomi Morgan and Sofija Dakovic, finished on 55.3333 points for the routine and 54.9067 for the figures to end with an overall total of 110.2400 and the bronze medal.

Pictures: DE Photo