ZPCH Synchronized Swimmers take the lead at the Dutch Junior Championships (NJK) in Heerenveen

The following is a press release courtesy of ZPCH:

Last Saturday, the Synchronized Swimming Dutch Junior Championships (NJK) 2015, took place at the Sportstad in Heerenveen. The swimmers of ZPCH Hoofddorp – who took Silver last year – proved unbeatable and won gold medals at both the team and solo events.

The ZPCH team was made up of seven swimmers: Eva Meulblok, Shelby Kasse, Rebecca Duyverman (all from Hoofddorp), Jori van den Hoogen (Gouda), Anouk Brand (Capelle aan den IJssel), Kim Schravendijk (Utrecht) and Lisa van Seuren (Alphen aan den Rijn). They swam to the music of Daft Punk: Technologic, an upbeat song that had the audience in raptures. Despite the injury of Darleen Kagchelland (Hoofddorp), who could not compete as a result, the team went to the finals as favourite and did not disappoint. With 137 points, the team were less than 6 points ahead of the number two, Cadans and seven points ahead of the number three, De Dokkelaars.
The entire ZPCH team is made up of swimmers from the National talent team (KNZB – Dutch National Swimming Association). Some are in the Jong Oranje (Juniors), and others in Jong Oranje 2 (Juniors 2). In February the team proved their talent at the Inter Regional Championships in Roosendaal by bringing home a gold medal.

As far as the solo event was concerned, it was a neck and neck race, which ultimately resulted in gold for ZPCH’s soloist, Shelby Kasse. Kasse – who comes from Curacao- was in the lead by 0.2 points to Adriani Vasilakis from Cadans. Cathy Aalberts from PSV finished in third place, three points behind . Shelby Kasse swam to the music of Cirque du Soleil and did so under the inspirational guidance of Dutch Seniors Champion, Rynske Keur .
The figures section in the morning was another success for ZPCH with Eva Meulblok achieving a very agreeable third place out of all the competing Dutch swimmers . Three other ZPCH members finished in the top ten: Shelby Kasse, Jori van den Hoogen and Rebecca Duyverman, while the other team members nicely finished in the top 25. In addition to the ZPCH junior team – at the invitation of the KNZB – three other young talented swimmers (who were not officially competing) participated in the figures section. Femke van Kesteren (14, Hoofddorp) would have achieved 21st place had she been competing. Vivienne Eenennaam (13, Alphen aan den Rijn) would have been in 26th place and Mayra Burger (14 from Koedijk) in 27th place. Van Kesteren has been swimming since last Autumn with the Jong Oranje 2. Due to the strong performances of Eenennaam and Burger already this season, they have been introduced to the Jong Oranje Trainer and they have been personally invited to attend the trials for Jong Oranje 2 on July 3rd.

ZPCH did not participate in the duets. By a big lead, the duets were won by Noortje and Bregje de Brouwer from De Dokkelaars. The duet from Cadans took 2nd place and ACZ took a very acceptable third place. Over 100 swimmers, aged up to 18 years old, participated in the NJK. In addition to the Dutch participants, four Belgian synchronized swimming clubs competed and three of their swimmers managed to qualify in the top 25.
Three of ZPCH’s training team: Ingrid Lommerse, Rynske Keur and Sanne Wouters were present at the NJK to guide the club’s swimmers during the championships. Wouters said: “This is what we ultimately came for: gold medals as a reward of these girls’ hard work; so much training and what a team spirit … awesome! As Trainers, we could not be more proud of these athletes”! Lommerse added: “Just after getting a gold medal for our seniors duet, we are now getting gold again for our Junior team and for our Junior soloist and, to top it off, to also receive recognition for our youngest participants today …”

The competition season is far from over for ZPCH’s Junior swimmers. The swimmers who will make the Jong Oranje team will travel to Baku. Last week they got the green light from the KNZB to participate with the team at the European Youth Championships although the KNZB has still to decide on the final team set-up. The swimmers who make it to the Jong Oranje 2 will have the opportunity to take part in the Swiss championships.
Furthermore, this same team is training for the NK (Dutch Championships) Free Combination in June, during the Synchrobeat in Eindhoven. Specifically for this competition , the team will be complemented by swimmers from other age categories: Reka Loszi (Seniors) , Femke van Kesteren and Britt de Moes (both Age 2 ) and Darleen Kagchelland – if recovered from her injury – will complete the team.

General
ZPCH is Hoofddorp’s swimming and water polo club and is a major sports association in the Haarlemmermeer. In addition to swimming lessons, the club has a large sports section with water polo, synchronized swimming and competitive swimming. These units not only provide many opportunities for people with a sporting ambition, but also for the recreational athlete.

ZPCH is renowned for its recreational, as well as talent development, synchronized swimming programmes. Having a license for its talent development programme, ZPCH was runner-up at national level last year. Partly due to its approach, the club – as it turned out last summer – has become a great attraction outside the city limits of Hoofddorp. The athletes and trainers come from Amsterdam, Alkmaar, Koedijk, Gouda, Rotterdam and Alphen aan den Rijn.

The club is known for its high quality and promotes having fun, both in swimming lessons as well as the various sports departments. The club is based in the new pool in Hoofddorp, the SKWA (Koning Willem Alexander Sports School), moving from its origins “De Estafette” in Nieuw Vennep. The professional nature of the club is further supported and strengthened by highly qualified physiotherapists from CURA.