Graham Sykes Coventry Open Meet 2013
27 Jul 2013
Pershore Swimming Club took a 20-strong team
to compete in the annual City of CoventryÆs Graham Sykes Open Meet, coming away
with a staggering 32 medals, 49 personal bests and 17 County Qualifying Times,
despite the fact that for many of the team, it was the first time that they had
swam competitively in a 50m pool.
For the older swimmers amongst the squad,
Angus Jones was in excellent form picking up three medals in the boys 15 year
age group, taking gold in the 100m backstroke in 1.11.84 seconds and also
picking up two bronze medals in the 200m backstroke in 2.36.94 and the 200m
freestyle in 2.21.17. Katie Sharratt produced
a strong swim in the girlÆs 14 year old category, winning the 200m fly in
3.07.44 to take gold and Jake Spencer showed good form in the boysÆ 14 year old
100m fly, coming home second in 1.25.11 for a silver medal.
Jasmine Franks, the youngest swimmer in the
team having just celebrated her ninth birthday, was also in the medals in her
first competitive gala. Franks showed no
sign of nerves to produce fantastic performances in the girls 9 year old 50m
breaststroke to win a silver medal in 55.06 and a massive pb in the 50m
backstroke in 48.49.
Isobel Cumming and Charlotte Downey bagged
several medals in the girlsÆ 10 year old age group, both showing good form in
the longer distance format and smashing personal bests. Cumming won four gold and two bronze medals,
winning the 100m free (1.19.35), the 100m back (1.33.69), the 200m back
(3.13.75), the 200m fly (3.48.21) and taking third place in the 200m freestyle
(2.53.02) and the 100m fly (1.36.47). Downey grabbed five podium finishes, with silver medals in the 100m back
(1.37.72), the 50m breaststroke (51.26) and the 200m breaststroke (3.51.18) and
third place finishes in the 50m back (46.20) and the 200m back (3.26.27).
In the boysÆ 11 year old age category, Simon
Sweatman and Josh Sharratt were amongst the medals with some excellent
performances. Sweatman won four gold
medals in the 200m free (2.24.24), the 400m free (5.07.90), the 100 fly
(1.19.05) and the 200 IM (2.49.48) as well as picking up a silver in the 50m
breaststroke (47.37). Sharratt grabbed
two silver medals, with strong swims in the 200m freestyle (1.16.05) and 200m
fly (3.27.53).
Naomi Marsden won two medals in the girlsÆ 11
year old age group, easily winning the 50m backstroke in 38.31 and then going
on to win silver in the 200m backstroke in 2.57.37.
There were also medals for sisters Casarena
and Satara Ferreira in the 50m breaststroke, with Casarena grabbing bronze in
the girls 12 year old 50m breaststroke in 45.53 and younger sister Satara
taking bronze in the girlsÆ 10 year old 50m breaststroke in 52.08 seconds.
Other younger swimmers showing much sign of
promise were Patrick Heeks and Cameron Leach û both competing in the boysÆ 9
year old age group. Heeks bagged himself
two bronze medals in the freestyle events, coming third in the 50m freestyle
(39.24) and 200m freestyle (3.10.35), while Leach produced a massive pb in the
200m IM to grab a silver medal in 3.49.13.
William Gearey was also amongst the medals in
the boysÆ ten year old category, taking silvers in the 200m IM in 3.12.44 and
the 100m backstroke in 1.29.36 as well as a third place finish in the 50m fly
in 42.70 seconds.
Several other swimmers competed across the
weekend, just narrowly missing out on medals but still producing excellent
performances and smashing personal bests. Sophie Thomas (9) produced four massive pbs in the 50m free (46.30), 200
freestyle (3.52.20), 50m backstroke (50.76) and 50m breaststroke (56.88);
Rebecca Phillips (10) swam strongly to produce new pb in the 200m IM (3.42.80);
Hannah Simister produced pbs in the 100m free (1.18.70), 200 free (2.45.80),
200m breast (3.26.30) and 200m IM (3.07.40); Ben Clarke produced a pb in the
50m free in 35.93.
PershoreÆs head coach, Tom Naughton,
said: "Some very promising results
especially from our younger swimmers and I was particularly impressed with our
nine year old swimmers. It was the first
time competing in a 50m pool for Jasmine, Sophie, Cameron and Patrick so was delighted
to see such strong performances and no sign of nerves!ö
Ends