Arena League Round 1 - Oct 2014
11 Oct 2014
Pershore Swimming Club’s promotion chances took a massive step forward this weekend with a dominant performance in Round 1 of the National Arena League (West Midlands Division Three) at Wolverhampton Central Baths.
Competing against Warley Wasps, Blythe Barracudas, Burntwood and Wombourne, Pershore racked up a staggering 32 wins out of 50 races from individual and relay races to take victory in style.
Michael Evans, looking strong throughout the evening, produced a superb 2.37.77 in the Men’s Open 200IM to start Pershore’s charge.
Pershore then dominated in the relay events, winning the girls 10/11 4 x 50m free (2.13.90), the boys 10/11 4 x 50m free (2.14.23), the girls 13/u 4 x 50m medley (2.21.78), the boys 13/u 4 x 50m medley (2.18.75), the girls 15/u 4 x 50m free (2.07.78), the boys 15/u 4 x 50m free (2.00.15) and the Ladies Open 4 x 50m medley (2.23.85).
Megan Annis claimed Pershore’s first individual victory of the evening, with a win in the 10/11 year 50m back in 36.02, and Patrick Heeks also won the boys event in 38.04. Isabella Woodcock produced a 1.26.42 in the 13/u 100m breaststroke to take maximum points and Simon Sweatman, only 12, won the 15/u 100m backstroke in 1.09.87 – a time which puts him in the top 5 UK end of year rankings. Charlotte Downey looked strong in the 10/11 year 50m fly, winning by a clear margin in 38.18, while Heeks made it two wins from two also taking victory in the boys race in 38.36.
Will Gearey managed second in the 13/u 100m breaststroke in new pb of 1.24.41, Ella Spencer grabbed second, just losing on the touch, in the 15/u 100m back in 1.19.67, Helen Annis produced a strong display for silver in the Ladies Open 100m fly in 1.19.60 and Angus Jones claimed third in the Men’s Open event in 1.13.50.
After 18 events, Pershore had stormed into the lead on 75 points, with Wombourne back in second place on 63 and Burntwood on 55.
Naomi Marsden produced a massive pb in the 13/u 100m backstroke to take the win in 1.13.59 and Sweatman made it another victory in boys backstroke event in 1.11.19. Amy Cooper, making her competitive debut for Pershore and swimming up an age group, claimed an excellent silver in the 15/u 100m fly in 1.21.98 and Josh Sharratt, also swimming up, claimed third in the boys event in 1.28.16. Alex Dobell produced a 1.18.89 in the Ladies Open 100m back to take second place while Jones managed another third place in the Men’s event in 1.13.21.
Hannah Woodcock got Pershore back to winning ways with an easy victory in the 10/11 50m breaststroke in 43.02, and Gearey also managed to win the boys event in 39.55. Cooper claimed maximum points in the 13/u 100m fly going faster than her earlier time with a 1.20.39 and Chris Vizard also won easily in the boys event in 1.17.95.
After 26 events, Pershore had extended their lead over Wombourne to 31 points and looking strong.
Hope Rochelle was unlucky not to take first place in the 15/u 100m free, losing out on the touch in 1.10.64. Evans produced another excellent swim, this time grabbing maximum points for Pershore in the 15/u 100m free in 1.02.10.
Alice Hall produced a 1.29.12 to take gold in the Ladies Open 100m breaststroke, while Ben Clarke produced a fantastic 1.34.43 in the Men’s Open event. Megan Annis made sure of a second win in the 10/11 50m free, clocking 31.40 and Gearey also won the boys event in 29.77.
Marsden notched up another win in the 13/u 100m free in 1.09.05, Sweatman produced another pb to win the boys event in 1.02.33 and Isabella Woodcock made it an individual double in the 100m breaststroke winning the 15/u event in 1.28.10.
Evans and Hall then both grabbed third places in the 15/u 100m breastroke (1.27.97) and the Ladies Open 100m free in 1.10.34.
With just the relays left, Pershore found themselves in a commanding position and unlikely to lose the lead. Six victories out of eight from the relay events ensured that Pershore extended their lead, with wins for the girls 10/11 4 x 50m medley (2.33.41), the boys 10/11 4 x 50m medley (2.37.58), the girls 13/u 4 x 50m freestyle (2.11.10), the boys 13/u 4 x 50m freestyle (2.02.00), the girls 15/u 4 x 50m medley (2.28.65) and the Ladies Open 6 x 50m free (3.10.77).
Other swimmers who put in good performances for Pershore in the relays included Alexandra Barry, Ronan Williams, Luke Perry, Hannah Simister, Drew Jones, Kieran Cooper and Marie Porter.
The final points were Pershore 212, Wombourne 169, Burntwood 141, Blythe 103 and Warley 100, seeing Pershore claim a maximum six points and putting them top of the table.
Commenting on the win, Pershore’s head coach, Tom Naughton, said: "What a fantastic team performance and this victory will certainly help our promotion cause!”