Pershore again supreme in Junior League
18 May 2012
Pershore Swimmers again reign supreme in Junior League.
In this year's second round of the Junior League in which 63 teams from around the whole of the Midlands take part Pershore Swimming Club continued their task of trying to make the Division 2 Finals in September. The omens were not good when one of their key 12 year old contacting an eye infection overnight and a top 10 year old having to be rushed to hospital near the venue in Nuneaton having taken a fall on poolside, both unable to swim,. Other members had to rush across from where they had been competing in a two day meet in Gloucester.
The club still managed to record 12 individual wins as well as 9 relay victories from the total of 51 events against bigger club opposition. By the quarter stage Pershore were lying equal 1st place with Hinckley but only worked to inspire the small club team spirit the club has become famous for and by the half way stage Pershore were beginning to build up a small lead eventually culminating in an exciting finish with the club's swimmers winning six out of the last ten races and finishing with 235pts; Hinckley (Leics) 207pts; Perry Beeches (B'ham) 168pts; Lichfield 158pts; Market Harborough (Leics) 153pts and Burntwood (Staffs) 126pts.
Recording individual 1st places were Simon Sweatman (who together with Tazmin Pugh had been one of those rushing over from Gloucester) in the 10/u 50m freestyle with 32.01 again taking 1st again swimming up in the 11/u age group. This was immediately followed by a win from Charlotte Downey (9) in the 1 length breaststroke in 26.57. The next win came from Tazmin Pugh in the 12/u 50m butterfly going on to record another victory and the full 6pts in the 12/u 50m free.
Nine year old Kate Sanderson was another winner in the 9 yr 25m fly coming home in 22.63 followed by the full 6pts for a win by Naomi Marsden in the 10/u 50m free with 44.82. In the 10/u fly events both Maisy Robertson and Josh Sharratt took victory in 19.53 and 17.54 respectively. Making it four 1st places on the run Rebecca Philips and Sam Doyle won their 9 yrs 1 length backstroke events with 23.22 and 22.22.
Swimming pbs in their individual races and also joining the above in the relay events were with the 9 yrs and 10/u boys winning their Medley and Freestyle events were William Gearey (3rd 24.95 25m free); Luke Betteridge; Tom Bailey; Ollie Cross; Drew Jones (2nd 36.49 in 50 fly); Owen Leeks (3rd37.53 in 50m back); Jack Betteridge; Sammy Whitehill.
Like the boys the 9yr and 10/u girls took victory in their Medley and Freestyle Relay events being helped by Megan Annis; Daisy Tolley; Isobel Cumming; Amy Weston (4th 41.31 in 50m back); Hannah Simister (3rd47.35 in 50 breast); Jasmine Taite (4th 37.25 in 50m breast); and Louise Hird. The club will be looking forward to their next final leg in June hoping to make the finals in September having climbed out of division three at the first time of asking two years ago.
Ian