14 Jul 2013

Pershore Swimming Club travelled to Leamington Spa for the third round of the Nuneaton & District Junior League needing to finish at least fourth to retain their Division One status.

Newly-promoted Pershore were drawn against several of the leagueÆs biggest clubs and many of the regionÆs strongest age-group swimmers from Boldmere, Stourbridge and Leamington in what proved to be a thrilling, close fought affair that went to the wire.

With PershoreÆs travelling supporters in good voice, the young team once again stepped up to deliver a very strong performance, securing 22 podiums finishes in total including six first places and smashing personal bests throughout the evening.

William Gearey delivered PershoreÆs first victory, winning the boys 10 year old 50m freestyle in 30.86 seconds (pb) to take maximum points and setting one of the fastest times in the UK this year for a ten year old.  This was soon followed by Jasmine Franks coming an impressive third in the girls 9 year old 25m breaststroke in 23.50 and another massive pb.

Two second places for the boys and girls 11/u 4 x 25m medley relay teams ensured PershoreÆs strong start continued. Gearey was joined by Chris Vizard, Josh Sharratt and Simon Sweatman to take second in a time of 1.11.60, just edged out by Boldmere.  For the girls, Naomi Marsden, Isabella Woodcock, Isobel Cumming and Daisy Tolley were again beaten into second place by a strong team from Boldmere in an excellent time of 1.11.46.

Three more second places followed in quick succession for Pershore, with Hamish Cross producing a strong performance in the boys 10 year old 50m breaststroke in 53.92.  Pershore snatched second place in the girlsÆ 9 year old 4 x 25m medley relay, with Franks joined by Caitlin Yates, Hannah Woodcock and Sophie Thomas in 1.30.65. And Gearey, Vizard, Sharratt and Sweatman teamed up again to take second in the boyÆs 11/u 4 x 25m freestyle in 1.01.04 seconds.

After 14 events, Pershore found themselves in third place on 46 points behind early leaders Boldmere and Leamington and only just ahead of Stourbridge and Kingsbury on 44 points.

The boys 10 year old 4 x 25m medley and 4 x 25m freestyle relay team saw Cross and Gearey joined by Patrick Heeks and Jamie Saunders, managing to grab third places in 1.21.81 and 1.11.87 respectively in both events to keep Pershore in the hunt

This was soon followed by Marsden and Sweatman who both put in dominant performances in the 50m backstroke.  Marsden led the girlÆs 11/u 50m backstroke from the start, winning in a time of 37.63 seconds, and Sweatman did the same in the boys 11/u 50 backstroke taking maximum points in 35.11 seconds.

The girls 9 year old relay team then made it two second places on the night, with Yates99, Woodcock, Franks and Thomas again taking silver in the 4 x 25m freestyle relay in 1.18.27 seconds.

And after 28 events, Pershore remained in third place on 93 points with Stourbridge hot on their heels on 89 points meaning the team had to produce something special to keep ahead of their rivals

Further second places for Hannah Woodcock in the girls 9 year old 25m butterfly (20.25) and 25m freestyle (16.97) and Sweatman in the boys 12/u 50m freestyle (29.58) helped settled the teamÆs nerves.  Heeks produced an excellent performance in the boys 10 year 50m backstroke coming home third in 43.42 and Chris Vizard had a strong swim in the boys 11/u 50m breaststroke, touching in second place in a new pb of 45.91.

However, after 42 events and with Boldmere running away with the victory, Pershore had lost their third place to Stourbridge and found themselves on 134 points, six points behind, with just nine events remaining and staring relegation from the top division in the face.

With the atmosphere reaching fever pitch, PershoreÆs youngsters started an incredible fight back.

First up was Isabella Woodcock who produced another dominant performance in her favourite 50m breaststroke, easily taking victory in the girlÆs 10/u event in a time of 42.84.  Next up was Megan Annis, another County champion within the teamÆs ranks, who fought hard to take silver in the girls 10/u 50m fly in a time of 18.10 losing on the touch.

William Gearey then made it victory number two and maximum points in the boys 10/u 25m butterfly in 16.32 with another pb and holding off the challenge of a strong Boldmere swimmer. 

Sweatman made it another maximum points for Pershore producing an incredible swim in the boys 11/u 50m freestyle in a stunning time of 29.18 (pb) and one of the fastest times in the UK for an 11 year old in 2013.

With one event to go, the 8 x 25m freestyle mixed age group relay, Pershore and Stourbridge found themselves on 162 points each, meaning Pershore had to beat them to stay in the league.

Cheered on by their noisy supporters, PershoreÆs youngsters yet again delivered, taking third place the final event in 2.11.45 beating rivals Stourbridge into fourth by less than half a second who finished on 2.11.82 seconds.

The final standings were (1) Boldmere 257 points, (2) Leamington 199 points, (3) Pershore 166 points, (4) Stourbridge 165 points, (5) Chase 137 points and (6) Kingsbury 135 points.

Tom Naughton, PershoreÆs head coach, said:  "What a terrific performance tonight.  We went into the event knowing that we needed third place against some very strong opposition and the team has delivered. There were so many good performances throughout the team as well and everyone stepped up.  We knew that it was going to be tough to survive in the top division so really pleased that weÆve retained our place!ö

Ends.

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