Hall of fame
The following RRSC swimmers have already achieved national and international success. Watch this space for future champion swimmers!
Louise Watkin
Redhill and Reigate Swimming Club's Paralympic champion continues to go from strength to strength. Read her story on the Surrey 2012 website.
Congratulations to Louise Watkin for winning one silver and three bronze medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics
| 100 Free | 1:03.85 | Silver medal |
| 100 Breast | 1:26.10 | Bronze medal |
| 200 IM | 2:40.31 | Bronze medal |
| 50 Free | 0:29.80 | Bronze medal |
Louise Watkin named Surrey Young Sports Personality of the Year
Sixteen year old Paralympic medal winner Louise Watkin picked up the award at the Surrey Sports Awards at Cobham Sports Club on Sunday 19 October 2008. Congratulations yet again, Louise!
Sixteen year old R&RSC and Great Britain disability swimmer Louise Watkin took one silver and three bronze medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
On 8 September 2008 Louise Watkin came a superb second place second behind South African Natalie du Toit in the S9 category 100m freestyle at the Beijing Paralympics, with a time of 1:03:85.
Louise's second event, on Wednesday 10 September, was the 100m breaststroke. She finished in 1:26.10 seconds, behind New Zealand's gold medallist Sophie Pascoe.
On Thursday 11 September she swam in the 200m IM and gained the bronze medal in a time of 2:40.31, improving her PB by nearly a second!
Friday 12 September saw Louise placed 5th in the 400m Freestyle in 4:47.14 (a 2.64 sec PB).
On Sunday 14 September Louise swam her final race, the 50m Freestyle, taking the bronze medal in 0:29.80.
Alison Streeter MBE
Alison Streeter grew up in the Redhill area and swam for RRSC. She and her mother Freda were involved with RRSC for many years. They have both been active members of the RRSC committee (most recently Alison was our Treasurer) and are Honorary Life Members of the club.The following profile of Alison is taken from Wikipedia:
Alison Streeter MBE (born 1964) has conquered the English Channel 43 times, more than anyone in the world and earning her the title of Queen of the English Channel (The title was previously held by Cindy Nicholas - the King of the English Channel is currently held by Kevin Murphy with 34 successful crossings). This total includes a triple-channel swim. She also completed seven Channel crossings in one year, a feat made more difficult because she mounted her challenges against this 21 mile body of water one at a time on separate attempts of about one every ten days. Alison is also the fastest woman from France to England (8 hours 48 minutes), a record she established in 1988. She was the first (and so far only) woman to swim the Channel three ways non-stop in 1990 taking 34 h 40 min for the feat. Only 2 other men have succeeded (Jon Erikson, 1981 in a time of 38 h 27 mins and Philip Rush 1987 in a time of 28 h 21 mins).
The Queen gave Alison the MBE in 1991 for the above and charity fundraising. In May 2006 she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale. She worked as a currency trader all her working life in London until last year, and now spends part of her life in Adelaide, Australia and the summers in Dover in her beloved English Channel as a fully qualified Boat Pilot.
Jim Green
Jim is the only member of RRSC who currently holds both Australian and British records for swimming. He was first associated with RRSC in 1964 and only started swimming competitively at the age of 67! He currently swims in the 80-85 age group. He achieved records for 100m and 200m Breaststroke short course at the Nationals in Sheffield when he was swimming in the 75-79 years age group and still remains unbeaten. He is also the current holder of the Australian National 100m and 200m breaststroke titles for his age group as well as the Great Britain long course records for 100m and 200m Breaststroke which, ironically, he achieved while in Australia. In February 2008 Jim set a new British record in the 100m Breaststroke, clocking 2.00.70 for the 80-84 years age group at the Isle of Wight meet. Many congratulations Jim! Along with this fantastic result Jim also secured 3 more Gold medals in the following events:
25m Breaststroke – 23.57
25m Backstroke – 27.83
200m Breaststroke – 4.31.29
Jim went to Perth, Australia again to compete in the Fina World Swimming Championships in April 2008. He is an inspiration to all of us and proof that you can never be too old for competitive swimming!