Profab Shield - Sept 2014
28 Sep 2014
Pershore Swimming Club was celebrating after winning the
club’s first trophy for years, battling hard against much bigger Midland clubs
including Stourbridge, Blythe and Swadlincote to win the Profab Shield Gala at
Wolverhampton Central Baths. The young team,
aged between 11 to 14 years, notched up a stunning 18 victories on the night as
well as swimmers achieving over 20 new County Qualifying Times for 2015.
The team got off to a flying start, with victories in the first three events. Holly Winkley opened up Pershore’s challenge, with an easy win in the girls 11 year 50m free in 33.59, and Ronan Williams also notched up maximum points in the boys 11 year 50m free in 35.77. Isobel Cumming then made sure it was three wins from three, with a clear victory in the girls 12 year 50m fly in 36.52. Josh Sharratt was unlucky not to take the win in the boys 12 year 50m fly, just being edged out into second in 36.93. Hannah Simister swam well in the 13 year 50m breast for third place in 41.39.
Amy Weston, swimming up two age groups, produced an excellent time in the girls 14 year 100m back, clocking 1.14.68 and grabbed second place, while Owen Leeks also snatched silver in the boys 100m back in 1.11.52.
In the first of many relay events, the girls 11 year 4 x 25m medley (Ellen Cope, Charlotte Downey, Alexandra Barry and Winkley) looked strong to claim second in 1.14.68, and the boys 11 year team (Williams, Hamish Cross, Will Gearey and Patrick Heeks) went one better to secure victory in 1.12.22.
After ten events, Pershore found themselves in the lead with 70 points, with Stourbridge their nearest rivals back on 64 points.
Heeks, also swimming up an age group, was soon in action again in the boys 12 year 50m back, producing a 37.11 swim to take second. Jasmine Taite and Chris Vizard both grabbed second places in the 13 year 50m free with times of 31.58 and 30.07 respectively. Jack Betteridge added further points to Pershore’s cause, with second place in the boys 14 year 100m breaststroke. Megan Annis got the team back to winning ways, easily taking victory in the girls 11 year old 50m breaststroke in 41.54, while fast-improving Cross took second in the boys event in 46.88.
The girls 12 years 4 x 25m medley team (Cope, Downey, Naomi Marsden and Melissa Radley) teamed up well for third in 1.14.44, while the boys 12 years medley team (William Clarke, Gearey, Sharratt and James Thomas) managed second in 1.11.12.
After 20 events, Pershore had managed to extend their lead over Stourbridge to seven points, with Blythe back in third position.
Amy Cooper, who was making her competitive debut for Pershore, rose to the challenge and snatched silver in the girl 13 year 50m fly in 35.89. Simon Sweatman opened his account for the team with a dominant performance in the boys 13 year 50m fly, winning by some margin in 32.00. Downey narrowly missed out on victory in the girls 11 year 50m fly with 38.72, whilst Heeks stormed to victory in the boys event in 38.28. Annis made it two wins out of two in her individual races with another excellent win in the girls 12 year 50m breast, while Gearey could only manage silver in the boys event in 39.52.
Pershore didn’t have to wait long for another win, this time courtesy of the girls 13 year 4 x 50m medley, with Marsden, Simister, Cooper and Taite proving too strong for the opposition, with an easy win in 2.25.33. The boys team of Sweatman, West, Sharratt and Vizard couldn’t quite match their achievement, taking third place in 2.28.40.
Weston grabbed second in the girls 14 year 50m fly in 35.97 and Betteridge was third in the boys event in 34.50. Olivia Howard provided one of the swims of the night with a fantastic victory in the girls 11 year 50m back in 41.18 and Williams notched up win number two in boys 50m back in 41.24.
Pershore finished the individual events in fine form with three straight victories. Vizard stormed to maximum points in the boys 12 year 50m free in 30.65, Marsden easily won the girls 13 year 50m back in 34.91 and Sweatman clocked a 33.53 to win the 13 year 50m back.
With the relays just remaining, Pershore were on 208 points, with Stourbridge back on 196 and with it all to do.
Pershore secured four victories out of ten relay events, with wins coming from the girls 14 year 4 x 50m medley (Weston, Beth Carter, Cooper, Taite); the boys 11 year 4 x 25m free (Williams, Cross, Heeks, Gearey); the boys 12 year 4 x 25m free (Vizard, Thomas, Sweatman and Clarke); the girls 13 year 4 x 25m free (Cooper, Weston, Marsden and Taite). The boys 14 year old 4 x 25m relay (Ben Clarke, Drew Jones, Leeks and Calum Sanderson) were also unlucky to miss out on maximum points with a fine team effort.
The final standings saw Pershore claiming the trophy with 348 points, Stourbridge 324 points, Blythe 278 points, Swadlincote 259 points, Warley 193, Haden Hill 147 points and Bromsgrove on 147 points.
Pershore’s head coach, Tom Naughton, said: "What a great result for the club! I’m delighted for all the swimmers and this victory was thoroughly deserved. We led from the very first event and there were some great individual and team performances. This has been a long time coming and it’s a just reward for the hard work, commitment and effort from all swimmers!”
