12 Dec 2014

Pershore Swimming Club picked up their third trophy of the season, with an emphatic win in the Gavin Tipper Memorial Gala at Bromsgrove.  Cheered on by a large crowd of Pershore supporters, the club saw off the challenges of Stourbridge, Redditch, Kingsbury and Northgate to win by a clear margin.

 

The Gavin Tipper Gala is an opportunity for the up-and-coming youngsters to gain their first taste of competition, with several swimmers from Pershore getting club debuts.

 

Chris Vizard got Pershore off to a good start with second in the boys 13/u fly (32.79), while Amy Cooper brought home the first of many maximum points for Pershore with victory in the girls 13/u fly (35.17).  Luke Perry soon made it win number two, taking first place in the 12/u 50m back on the touch in 36.37, and Naomi Marsden was edged into second in the girls 12/u 50m back in 34.66.

 

Kieran Cooper got Pershore back to winning ways, storming to victory in the boys 11/u 25m breaststroke (20.91) and Megan Annis also won in the girls 11/u 25m breaststroke (18.34).

 

The girls 10/u 4 x 25m medley relay were unlucky not to snatch the win, coming home in second place to a strong Kingsbury team, while the boys 9/u 4 x 25m breaststroke relay team managed an excellent third in 1.54.62.  The girl’s 9/u breaststroke team grabbed first place in 1.44.58.

 

Marsden was soon back in action, this time going one better in the 13/u 50m backstroke, powering to the win in 35.38.  The boy’s 12/u 4 x 50m medley team also managed to win in 1.05.74 and the girls team came second in 1.10.31.  Hamish Cross looked strong in his win in the boys 11/u 25m free (15.78) and Holly Winkley also managed a win in the girls event in 15.31.

 

After 15 events, Pershore found themselves in first place on 81 points and already building a lead over second place Kingsbury back on 64 points and Stourbridge third on 61 points.

 

Pershore continued piling the pressure on their rivals, with Cameron Leach taking second in the 10/u 25m fly (19.36), while Hannah Woodcock went one better, winning in 16.94.  Two second places in relay events ensure Pershore extended their lead, with silvers for the boys 9/u 4 x 25m medley team (1.32.87) and the girls 9/u 4 x 25m medley (1.26.60).

 

Patrick Heeks was never troubled in the 11/u 25m fly, winning easily in 16.59 and Alexandra Barry also dominated her event with victory in 16.21.  The boys 13/u 4 x 25m medley team also won in style, beating the opposition by nearly a length in 1.07.14.  The girls 13/u team were unlucky not to take silver, missing out on the touch in 1.11.53 to Redditch.

 

Jasmine Franks took first place in the girls 10/u 25m free (16.03), while Will Gearey ensure maximum points with victory in the 12/u 50m breaststroke in 39.94.  Isabella Woodcock also won the girls 12/u 50m breaststroke, with a strong performance clocking 39.72.  The girls 9/u 4 x 25m backstroke relay team also won in 1.29.71.

 

Vizard battled hard to claim third place in the 13/u 50m breaststroke (39.87), while Hannah Simister managed to grab second in 41.41.  Simister also took third in the 13/u 50m free (33.33).

 

After thirty events, Pershore had extended their lead and looked to be cruising to victory, with 163 points and Stourbridge back on 131 points.

 

Perry made it two wins from two, with another powerful display in the boys 12/u 50m free (32.56) and Isobel Cumming also won easily in 34.92.  Pershore’s boys and girls 11/u 4 x 25m medley teams also both won in style, clocking 1.12.13 and 1.11.34 respectively.

 

Hannah Woodcock was another swimmer celebrating two wins, taking first place in the 10/u 25m back (18.94), while Josh Sharratt chased hard to grab third in the boys 13/u 50m free (32.33).  Gearey maintained Pershore’s charge, taking another clear win in the boys 12/u 50m fly (32.87), while Marsden secured her second place of the evening in the 12/u 50m fly (36.90).  Heeks powered again to victory in the 11/u 25m back (19.33), and Olivia Howard looked strong in the girls event, taking second in 19.33. Franks ensured her second lot of maximum points for Pershore, winning the 10/u 25m breaststroke in 21.31. Leach kept Pershore’s points tally rolling with second in the 25m breast in 24.21.

 

After forty events and just with the relays to go, Pershore had built an almost unbeatable lead, nearly 40 points clear of second place Kingsbury.

 

With the crowd reaching fever pitch as the Gala came to a conclusion, Pershore’s relay teams proved they were the ones to beat. Victories came for the boys 11/u 4 x 25m relay team (1.02.75) and the girls 4 x 25m team (1.03.13), while the boys 12/u 4 x 25m team won by a massive margin in 59.42 and the mixed cannon freestyle relay finished a perfect night for Pershore with victory in 2.38.25.

 

The final results were Pershore 293, Kingsbury 253, Stourbridge 222, Redditch 167, Bromsgrove 142 and Northgate 98.

 

Commenting on the result, Pershore’s head coach, Tom Naughton, said:  "Another fantastic night for Pershore and delighted to land our third trophy of the season.  This gala was an opportunity for several new swimmers to get a taste of competitive action and I was very impressed how they all stepped up and handled the pressure. 2014 has been a record-breaking year for the club and winning another trophy is a great way to end the year!”

 

Pershore looks set to send a record-number of swimmers to the 2015 Worcester County Championships held in March, and will be looking to better their 2014 results.


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