Pershore Swimmers Reign Supreme in Junior League
24 Apr 2012
Pershore Swimmers Reign Supreme in Junior League
In this year's first round of the Nuneaton and District Junior League in which 63 teams from around the whole of the Midlands take part Pershore Swimming Club set about their task of making the Division 2 Finals in September in fine style. The club recorded eleven individual wins as well as 7 relay victories on their way to record a famous win in their first leg against Orion (Birmingham) Walsall; Cheadle; Blythe Barracudas (Birmingham) and Fox Hollies (Birmingham).
By the quarter stage Pershore were lying equal 1stwith Cheadle but only one point ahead of Blythe Barracudas who improved by the half way stage to displace Cheadle lying equal 1st with host club Pershore. From then on Pershore slowly edged away and consolidated in an exciting finish winning eight out of the last ten races to finish with 227pts; Blythe 199pts; Cheadle 178pts; Walsall 144pts;Orion 141pts and Fox Hollies 136pts.
Recording individual 1st places were Simon Sweatman (still aged 9) in the 10 yr and under (10/u) 50m freestyle with a personal best of 32.09 going even better when swimming up an age group in the 11/u by recording 31.76. This time is easily within the League Finals best performance records so Sweatman will be hoping the club make the finals and he can repeat or even better this performance.
Staying with the boys Chris Vizard (10) set a fine 43.97 in the 10/u 50m backstroke whilst eleven year old Josh Sharratt in the 10/u 25m Fly came home in 1st position in 17.52. Sam Doyle won the 9year 1 x length backstroke in 20.57. All four boys were joined by Luke Betteridge; Owen Leeks; Tom Bailey; Drew Jones; Joseph Doyle; Sam Whitehill in the five Medley and Freestyle relay victories they were involved in.
Fot the girls Tazmin Pugh had two individual 1stplaces in the 12/u 50m Fly 31.61 and 12/u Backstroke 29.39 again both of Pugh's times are within the League Finals records for a 12 year old. Nine year olds Kate Sanderson recorded 20.00 in the 9yr 25m fly, whilst Naomi Marsden (9) swam in the 10/u Back winning with 43.00 and Rebecca Phillips 23.06 for the 9yr 25m Backstroke. Pershore's sixth victor in the girl's individual races came from Maisy Robertson in the 10/u Fly recording 18.84.
Again all five girls were involved in the two relay victories in the 9yr Medley Relay and Girl's 10/u Freestyle Relay in addition to the victory in the final event the Mixed Boys / Girls Relay. Special mention should be made of Makenzie Christys who because of the lack of ten and eleven year old girls was busy all night in both individual and relay swims with great success, just before a two month sojourn to Toronto, Canada.
The club will be looking forward to their next two legs in May and June having climbed out of division three at the first time of asking two years ago.