Pershore SC speed to victory at Stourbridge Gala
17 Sep 2012
Pershore SC speed to victory at Stourbridge Gala
Pershore Swimming Club sent a 25-strong development team, aged between 9 รป 14 years, to compete in the Stourbridge Junior Sprint Meet at Wolverhampton at the weekend (16th September), recording a staggering 4 first places, 9 second places and three third places as well as smashing 48 personal bests on the way.
Riding high on the back of their promotion to the First Division in the Diddy League, the development team gives some of the newer and youngest swimmers their first taste of competitive swimming.
Star performance on the day went to Angus Jones (14) who produced three strong performances during the event notching first places in the boys 14 year old 50m Fly in a new PB of 36.17 and the boys 14 year old 100 IM in a new pb of 1.17.33 as well as a new pb in the 50m breaststroke of 44.12 seconds.
Jack Betteridge (12) took gold in the 12 year old boys 50m breast stroke, recording a new pb of 43.92 along the way. Jack also recorded pbs in the 50m fly (38.66) and the 100 IM (1.23.11).
William Gearey (9) took gold in the 9 year old boys 50m breast stroke in a new pb and County Qualifying Time (CQT) of 49.39 as well as recording another pb and CQT in the boys 9 year old 100m IM (1.32.22) despite receiving a speeding ticket.
Three other swimmers notched pbs and CQTs including Naomi Marsden (10) in the girls 10 year old 50m freestyle (38.14), Megan Annis (9) continued her strong form posting another pb and CQT in the 9 year old 50m breast stroke (54.46) and Lizzie Vizard (13) recording a new pb and CQT of 1.19.85 in the 13 year old girls 100m IM.
A host of swimmers posted pbs including Emily Burton (13) in the 50m back (40.22), 50m breast (45.75) and 100m IM (1.27.27); Isobel Cumming (9) in the 50m breast (56.85); Naomi Marsden (10) in the 50m breast (51.01) and 100m IM (1.35.86); Rebecca Phillips (9) in the 100m IM (1.50.88).
Kate Sanderson (9) smashed four pbs in the 50m back (58.98), the 50m breast (59.59), the 50m fly (52.39) and 100m IM (1.58.09); Laura Snape (13) posted a new pb in the 100m IM (1.27.97); Daisy Tolley (10) posted two pbs in the 50m breast (52.33) and 100m IM (1.34.45) while her older sister Megan (14) posted three pbs in the 50m breast (49.80), the 50m fly (37.27) and the 100m IM (1.27.62).
Katie Sharratt (14) also secured a new pb in the 100m IM (1.22.85); Lizzie Vizard backed up her strong performance in the IM with a new pb in the 50m breast (39.63) and Isabella Woodcock (9) managed three pbs including the 50m free (38.52), 50m back (45.00) and the 100m IM (1.35.83).
For the boys, Luke Betteridge (9) ensured he wasn't to be out done by his older brother Jack, recording three pbs in the 50m free (42.94), the 50m back (50.57) and the 50m breast (55.51). Luke grabbed his first podium in the 9 year old breast stroke.
William Clarke (10) continued to slash seconds of his times across the strokes, posting four pbs in the 50m back (47.56), the 50m breast (58.76), the 50m fly (57.47) and the 100m IM (1.47.43).
Sam Doyle (9) posted a new pb in the 100m IM (1.40.68) and just a little off the pace for a CQT. Calum Sanderson (12) recorded three pbs in the 50m breast (53.80), the 50m fly (42.26) and the 100m IM (1.31.49); and Jake Spencer (13) posted two pbs in the 50m back (41.63) and the 100m IM (1.26.11).
Tom Naughton, head coach at Pershore, commented: "There were some excellent performances from the team and recording so many pbs is very encouraging. This type of development meeting is very important for to encourage our younger swimmers and as usual they've stepped up and delivered. As a club, we've had an amazing year and so pleasing that so many youngster are coming through the club's system."Tim Gearey