15 Feb 2015

Pershore Swimming Club took a young squad of eight to the Aquae Sulis Spring Grand Prix in Bristol’s 50m pool at Hengrove Leisure Centre, with two of its swimmers managing to get amongst the medals and the rest producing Long Course Pbs throughout the weekend.  Aquae Sulis is one of the most popular Level One meets in the calendar, attracting entries from top age group competitors from all over the UK including Millfield, City of Bristol, City of Birmingham, Royal Wolverhampton School and University of Bath.  The Grand Prix comprises results from two open meets, with the first being held in November in 2014.

 

Will Gearey and Simon Sweatman battled it out in the boys 12 year old age group, with Gearey eventually winning the coveted overall Top Boy award and Sweatman claiming a fantastic third place overall.

 

Leading the Top Boy competition after the first Grand Prix in November, Gearey (12) produced a staggering eight long course personal bests in Bristol and bagged four medals against strong opposition to win the prestigious Grand Prix title. His best performance came in the 100m fly in which he produced 1.10.96, a three second Pb, to claim the silver medal and rose to number two in the UK end of year Long Course rankings for 12 year old boys.  He then snatched bronze in the 200m IM with 2.36.50, another Pb, (third in the UK rankings) and two more third places came in the 50m breaststroke (39.77 Pb) and 50m free (28.94) – his freestyle time earning him the top  spot in the UK rankings.  In his other events, Gearey was edged into fourth places in the 400m free (4.53.01 Pb) and 200m breast (2.59.61 Pb), fifth in the 100m back (1.15.25 Pb) and sixth in 200m back (2.38.53 Pb).

 

Sweatman (12)was also in excellent form, winning three silver medals and a bronze as well as producing a string of Long Course PBs that sees him rise in the UK end of year rankings for 13 year old boys.  Sweatman produced a new PB of 28.61 in the 50m free to win a silver medal and which saw him rise to ninth in the UK rankings.  He ensured back-to-back silvers in his favoured 100m and 200m Backstroke with some powerful displays, clocking 1.12.77 and 2.34.85 respectively - his 200m backstroke earned Sweatman a top 25th ranking spot.  Sweatman then produced a six second PB in the 400m free (4.47.62) to win the bronze medal, which also ensured a top 25thUK ranking.  Despite producing a PB in the 100m fly (1.12.42), Sweatman was just edged into fourth place to complete a superb weekend programme.

Jasmine Franks (10), making her competitive debut at a Level One meet, showed no signs of nerves and was another swimmer showing good form.  Franks managed five top ten finishes in the girl’s 9-10 age group which was a fantastic achievement for a debut.  Her best performance came in the 50m fly, in which she produced a massive Long Course PB of 38.32 to snatch fourth place.  Top ten finishes also came in the 50m free (34.87), the 50m breaststroke (47.17), 200m free (2.55.89) and the 200m IM (3.11.78 Pb).  She also clocked 3.23.64 in the 200m backstroke and 42.72 (Pb) in the 50m back.

Megan Annis (11) snatched five top ten finishes in the highly competitive girl’s 11-12 age group and nine Long Course Pbs.  She also achieved Midland Qualifying Times in all the 50m events.  Annis produced massive Pbs in the 200m backstroke (2.45.65) and the 100m fly (1.21.69) to secure 8th place finishes, going one place better in both the 50m free (31.33 Pb) and 50m back (36.53 Pb). Pbs also came in the 200m IM (2.51.34), 100m breaststroke (1.31.56), 50m breaststroke (41.74), 200m free (2.39.54) and 100m free (1.10.40).

Patrick Heeks (11), looking to add to his current MQT tally, looked strong in the longer distance events and moved nearer to the required times in several events.  Competing in the boys 11-12 age group, Heeks’ best performance was the 100m fly, hitting the wall in 1.20.09 (Pb) for a top ten finish.  He also produced Long Course Pbs in the 200m IM (2.52.63) and 200m back (2.49.82), and also swam 1.20.76 in the 100m backstroke 1.20.76, 48.50 in the 50m breaststroke and 33.44 for 50m free.

 

Alexandra Barry (11) produced eight LC PBs and also edged closer to her first MQT for 2015.  Barry’s programme including Pbs in the 200m IM (2.54.75), 200m free (2.30.56), 50m free (32.02), 50m fly (35.71), 100m back (1.19.72), 100m breaststroke (1.35.25), 100m free (1.09.87) and a top ten finish in the 50m back (36.53).  She also produced good swims in the 200m back (2.50.83), 100m fly (1.31.92) and 50m breaststroke (46.74).

 

Naomi Marsden (12), who already has secured MQTs in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke and 50m free, was hoping to lower her times but was just outside her previous Pbs.  Marsden managed excellent seventh place finishes in both the girls 11-12 year old 100m and 200m backstroke events, clocking 1.15.38 and 2.43.91 respectively. She also swam in the 200m IM (2.57.57), 50m breaststroke (43.44) and 50m free (31.86).

Isobel Cumming (12) produced a superb swim in the 100m freestyle, knocking over two seconds off her PB with a time of 1.13.89.  Cumming swam hard all weekend, producing a series of good times including 200m IM (3.02.65), 200m back (2.57.81), 200m free (2.43.25), 50m backstroke (40.42) and 50m fly (38.57).


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