11 Jan 2013

Pershore SC start their busy year on the podium showing staggering improvements.

In their first Open Meet of the year Pershore Swimming Club began what is going to be a busy year at the annual Stourbridge swimming club's Crystal Open Meet in Wolverhampton. Over twenty members turned out setting well over 70 personal bests (pb's) together with even more County Qualifying Times (CQT's) resulting in 30 members having achieved CQT's in an unprecedented 152 events.

Pride of the club on the day were brother and sister Chris (10) and Lizzie Vizard (14). Chris came away with the 1st place Crystal Goblet in the 50m backstroke (39.46), 2nd in the 50m free (33.24), and 3rd in the 50m fly (42.12) not surprisingly getting pb's in each. Chris has now achieved an amazing seven CQT's. His elder sister Lizzie also medalled in the 200m breast stroke coming 3rd with 3.09.49 also having achieved five CQT's, bringing the total to a dozen for the Vizard family.

Naomi Marsden (age 10) was also in the mix in the medals taking 2nd in the 50m back (39.01) and 3rd in the 100m Individual Medley (IM) in 1.28.38 setting two pb's and now making it a great eight CQT's for the County Champs in March. Owen Leeks picked up a bronze in the 200m back in 2.44.97 making it five CQT's achieved. Also taking a bronze medal in the 50m breast stroke event was eleven year old Hannah Simister in 45.23 setting a pb at the same time.

Competing well in the 50m sprints was nine year old Holly Winkley in one of her first Open Meets recording three pb's with 48.38 in the 50m fly, 38.17 in the 50m free and 46.76 in the 50m back. Benjamin Clarke (13) had a busy day recording 7 new pb's in the 50m back, 100m free, back and back plus 200m back, free and IM, whilst younger brother William set new pb's in the 50m breast (51.11) in the 50m fly (56.41) and 100m IM in 1.43.26.

Another nine year old competing in plenty of events on the day was St Barnabas School (Drakes Broughton) pupil Charlotte Downey achieving a new CQT of 40.96 in the 50m free making it eight CQT's she has achieved for her very first County Championships in March also setting 49.70 in the 50m fly and 47.42 in the 50m back.

Sisters Satara (9) and Casarena Ferriera (12) helped Pershore club to 10th place in the top twelve visiting clubs setting pbs in all the 50m sprints and for Casarena also in the 200m IM (2.22.14) and 200m breast (3.09.49), Izzie Cumming once again competed in a good number of events though unable to build on her four CQT she has already achieved though setting a pb in the 50m free event.

Liberty Deaville, Melissa Radley, Rebecca Phillips and Kate Sanderson all in the ten year old age group were taking competing in one of their first Open Meets and between them set some admirable performances. In the 50m back Kate achieved a 3 sec pb improving by over 15 secs during the last 12 months, whilst in the 50m fly she pb's by 5 and 14 sec respectively, and in the 50m free 4 and 17secs.

It was the same story for Melissa with a 17 sec in 100m free, whilst Rebecca improved by 3 and 10 secs this time in the last three months in the 50m back, and in the 100m IM has improved by over 6 secs in the last 2 months. Liberty set pbs in the 50m back 50m free 100m free, 100m IM 100m back and went even quicker in the club champs just two days later.

Brothers Luke (9) and Jack Betteridge (12) were trying to secure more CQT's Jack setting pb's in the 200m breast by over 17 secs and again by over 10 secs in the 200m free. recording 33.93 in the 50m free, 44.12 in the 50m breast, 38.60 in the 50m fly. Meanwhile young Holy Redeemer school pupil Luke showed typical determination setting a 2 sec pb in the 50m back 48.49 being a 12 sec improvement in last 12 months, 50m fly (54.52), a 9 sec pb 12 month improvement in the 50m free with 40.91 and another pb in the 100m IM (1.46.83) and together with a club champs time in the breast stroke now has CQT's in three events.

Josh Lane set pb's in the 50m back and breast and 200m back and 200m free events also recorded his first CQT a few days later in the club championships. Callum Sanderson recorded similar pbs in the 50m back, 200m back, free and IM events. Drew Jones (13) worked hard throughout the day also on the trail of county times and set a great new pb in the 200m IM even improving on this in the club championships.

Presently clubs members hold 32 of the 1st places in the short course county rankings and 26 of 1st places in the long course rankings sitting in over 100 of the top three county rankings in short and long course together from the seventy eligible members of competition age. if all goes well over the three weekends in March the thirty members having accumulated 152 CQT's between them should be bringing home cherished County Medals and maybe multiple titles of 2013 County Age Group Champion to the communities of Pershore and its surrounding villages.

Looking at these impressive figures it is not surprising Pershore Swimming Club are rapidly rising to being one of the best small home grown elite competition clubs in the whole of the Midlands so much so there is now hot competition gaining entry into the club.



Ian Pugh      photo


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