Redditch Trophy Gala - 4th Jan 2014
04 Jan 2014
Pershore Swimming Club handed debuts to several young swimmers in the first gala of 2014 at the annual Redditch Trophy Gala against much bigger clubs including Redditch, Worcester, Leamington, Blythe and Haden Hill.
The young development squad put in a string of brave and determined performances but found the going tough against strong opposition, eventually finishing in fifth place.
Macey French got Pershore off to a flying start with maximum points in the girls 10 year old 50m free (35.44 pb) and just edging out the Leamington swimmer. And after several fifth and sixth place finishes, the boys 11/u 4 x 25m medley eventually got Pershore back onto the podium with a solid third place (1.15.57) and Naomi Marsden also secured third place in the girls 12/u 50m backstroke in a new pb of 36.04.
Chris Vizard and Jasmine Franks then quickly added to the team’s total, with excellent second places. Vizard took silver in the boys 12/u 50m back in 38.00 just losing out on the touch to the Worcester swimmer and Franks produced a personal best time of 48.69 in the girls 10/u 50m breast again just missing out on first place on the touch.
After 12 events, Leamington led with 53 points, just ahead of Worcester on 51 points and Pershore were lying in fifth on 39 points.
Pershore’s girls and boys 11/u 4 x 25m freestyle relay teams both produced good performances each coming third in their races in times of 1.08.29 and 1.05.58 respectively. Josh Sharratt grabbed second place in the boys 12/u 50m butterfly in 37.68 holding off a late challenge from the Leamington swimmer. The girls 9 year old 4 x 25m freestyle relay team swam to an excellent third in a time of 1.19.70 and Vizard secured another second place for Pershore this time in the 12/u 50m breast in 43.84 seconds.
After 24 events, Leamington remained in first place on 103 points just one point ahead of Worcester on 102 points with Pershore still back in fifth on 77 points.
William Gearey added Pershore’s second maximum points, winning the boys 12/u 50m free in 29.93 (pb) – one of the quickest times set by a ten year old in the UK in the last 12 months.
The boys 12/u 4 x 25m freestyle relay grabbed second place in a time of 1.01.41 and Gearey produced victory number three for Pershore winning the boys 11/u 50m breast in a new pb of 42.35. French also produced another strong swim, coming second in the girls 10/u 25m fly in a new pb of 18.36. Lauren Annis grabbed third in the girls 9 year old 25m back in 21.43 and older sister Megan took silver in the girls 11/u 50m free clocking 34.38 behind a very strong Worcester swimmer. Gearey then made it three wins from three in the boys 11/u 50m free going quicker again in another pb of 29.88.
Several other swimmers also produced personal bests including Liam Cope in the 50m free (47.54), Georgia Winkley in the 25m breast (26.70), Robert Thomer in the 25m breast (35.97), Isobel Cumming in the 50m butterfly (39.29), Jamie Saunders in the 50m back (42.86), Max Arris in the 50m back (51.33), Tamara Marsden in the 25m free (19.98), Charlotte Downey in the 50m breast (47.42), Macey French in the 25m butterfly (18.36) and James Heeks in the 25m back (28.22)
The boys 12/u 4 x 25m medley relay in 1.14.19 secured an excellent second place with a strong anchor leg by Patrick Heeks bringing the team home and holding off a late surge by a good Worcester team.
The final places were Leamington 232, Worcester 223, Redditch 184, Blythe 172, Pershore 166 and Haden Hill 81.