Swim Britain 2014 - Bristol Sept 2014
14 Sep 2014
Pershore Swimming Club travelled down to Bristol this weekend to take part in SwimBritain, which saw youngsters and some of their parents tackling 1000m (4 legs of 250m) in aid of charity.
SwimBritain is a series of run team swimming relays taking place across Britain during September, supported by some of the country’s best loved swimmers including Olympians Rebecca Adlington, Michael Jamieson and Duncan Goodhew.
Seven teams of four took part in the annual event at the 50m pool at Hengrove in Bristol, which saw impressive performances from all and the opportunity to meet some of their Olympic heroes including GB swimmers Jamieson and Jemma Lowe.
The ‘Pershore Trailblazers’ quartet of Chris Vizard, Josh Sharratt, Simon Sweatman and William Gearey managed to come fourth overall, setting a combined team time of 1.01.59.
Not far behind them were two girl relay teams with Charlotte Downey, Isobel Cumming, Megan Annis and Naomi Marsden, swimming under the team ‘Pershore Veni Natavi Vici’ managing a fantastic eighth place in 1.05.57 and the ‘Pershore Gills’ team of Hannah Simister, Helena Leach, Holly Simister and Macey French grabbing 12th in 1.14.01.
Fathers Mike Leach and Darren Kirby competed with their sons, Cameron Leach and Owen Kirby as ‘Pershore Buoys’, looking to smash the time they had set last year. Mike Leach, who used to swim at national level in his youth, proved that he had lost none of his competitive spirit, producing a fantastic time of 16.05 for his 1000m – which was one of the fastest times for any PSC swimmer. Darren also looked strong, easily beating his time in 2013 and clocking 22.30.
Just behind the ‘Pershore Buoys’ were the quartet of Caitlin Yates, Sophie Thomas, Jasmine Franks and Alexandra Barry. Suitably-named ‘Girl Power’, they managed a fantastic 15thposition with a time of 1.19.26.
Another set of parents entering SwimBritain for the first time also produced a good set of times. ‘Pershore Plodders’ saw John Sweatman, Sharon French, Simon Barry and Tim Gearey tackling the 1000m, managing a respectable time of 1.30.22.
The final team, one of the youngest to participate in the event, saw the ‘Starlight Swimmers’ comprising Tamara Marsden, Gabriella Barry, Amelia Gearey and Georgia Winkley producing a time of 1.32.14.
Pershore coach, Ian Cumming, commented: "Some amazing individual performances from both young and old swimmers alike and a really good time was had by all. It was also great to meet some of the current GB squad and ask them for some top tips. We’ll definitely be back next year and sure some of the parents will be training hard to beat their times too!”