01 Oct 2015

Pershore Swimming Club took a young squad to the Nuneaton & Bedworth Open Meet this weekend, notching up a staggering 45 podium finishes including 16 gold medals.

Up-and-coming PSC star, David Annis, claimed two medals in the boy’s 9/10 year old age group. Annis, still only 9, took a superb gold in the 200m back in 3.02.47 and claiming yet another County Qualifying Time (CQT).  He then added a silver medal in the 200m IM with a massive personal best time of 3.05.83 to show his overall strength across all strokes.

Will Gearey dominated the boys 11/12 age group, winning a phenomenal seven golds in seven events. Gearey (12) produced personal bests in six events, claiming gold medals in the 200m back (2.28.02), 200m breaststroke (2.47.09), 100m back (1.07.59), 400m IM (5.15.74), 400m free (4.38.75), 100m breaststroke (1.18.53) and 200m fly (2.47.77).  Several of these times sees Gearey rise into the top three in the UK rankings for short course.

Patrick Heeks (12) pushed Gearey hard in the 11/12 age group, winning five medals including two golds. Heeks produced massive PBs to claim gold medals in both the 100m fly (1.11.93) and 200m free (2.22.73), moving closer to achieving Midland Qualifying Times (MQT).  He then snatched silver medals behind Gearey to make it one-two for Pershore in the 200m back (2.33.50), 100m back (1.13.99) and 400m IM (5.39.04).

Simon Sweatman (13) was in excellent form too, producing a fine series of swims in the 13/14 age group. Sweatman produced massive pbs in the 100m fly (1.06.02) and 100m back (1.04.57) to take gold medals in dominant fashion – both times moved him up the UK rankings and into the top ten.  Sweatman then added silver medals in the 200m back with another superb performance clocking 2.18.31 and 2.08.26 in the 200m free.

Chris Vizard (13) produced a gutsy performance in the 200m fly, clocking 2.39.42 to take the gold medal in the 13/14 age group.  He also claimed silver medals in the 200m breast with a new pb time of 2.57.54 and 5.30.02 in the 400m IM.

Lauren Annis (10) looked strong in several of the girl’s 9/10 year old events, winning four medals and just missing out on a couple of golds.  Annis claimed three silver medals, with good performances in the 100m breast (1.41.51), 200m back (2.58.64) and 100m back (1.23.04) – all new CQTs. She added a Bronze medal in the 200m free with 2.48.75.

Amelia Gearey (10) produced a 30 second personal best to win silver in the girls 9/10 200m breast (3.31.71) and also achieved her second CQT.

Megan Annis (12) won eight medals across the weekend in the 11/12 age group, producing numerous PBS and also getting closer to 2016 MQTs.  Victories came in the 100m breast (1.27.11) and 200m breast (3.07.94), pushed hard by team mate Alexandra Barry.  Annis also won silver medals in the 100m back (1.14.47), 100m free (1.05.44), 100m fly (1.16.26) and 200m back (2.37.33) plus bronze medals in the 200m IM (2.41.29) and 200m free (2.27.83).

Alexandra Barry (12) battled all weekend with Megan Annis, running her close in several events in the 11/12 age group.  Barry’s best performance came in the 400m IM, with a superb victory in 5.44.56. Despite producing several PBS, Barry had to settle for silver medals in the 100m breast (1.31.01), 200m IM (2.41.29), 200m breast (3.10.85) and 200m free (2.27.77) plus also claimed third places in the 100m fly (1.18.83), 100m free (1.05.97), 200m back (2.38.58) and 100m back (1.17.06).

Isobel Cumming (13) was one of the few Pershore swimmers who tackled the gruelling 200m fly and was rewarded with a silver medal for her efforts in the 13/14 age group clocking 3.12.12.  She then added bronze in the 400m IM in 6.33.21.

Several other PSC swimmers were unlucky not to podium, with many finishing in fourth place during the weekend and smashing personal bests.  Sophie Thomas (11) secured her first ever CQT to book her place at the Worcestershire County Championships next year and there was also a welcome return after injury for Emily Burton.  Hannah Simister, Luke Perry, Hannah and Isabella Woodcock, Jasmine Franks, Owen Kirby, Cameron and Helena Leach also swam and all performed extremely well and produced numerous personal bests.


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