Three Counties Gala - 18th May 2014
18 May 2014
Seven young swimmers from Pershore Swimming Club received call ups to represent Worcester County at the Three-County Invitation Gala held at Gloucester this Sunday. Megan Annis (11), Patrick Heeks (10), Naomi Marsden (12) and Hannah Woodcock (10) all received their first county call-ups joining William Gearey (11), Simon Sweatman (11) and Isabella Woodcock (11) who have all represented Worcester County before.
The Worcester County squad faced strong competition from their counterparts from Gloucestershire and Staffordshire which boasted district and some national-ranked swimmers amongst their teams.
Hannah Woodcock made an impressive debut for Worcester County, winning two individual events. Woodcock’s first event was the girls 10 year old 50m backstroke which she just edged out her Staffordshire rival, touching in first place in 39.03. She then made it two wins from two, storming to victory in the 50m freestyle in 33.47. Woodcock was also picked for the 10 year old 4 x 50m freestyle and 4 x 50m medley relays teams in the 10 year old category.
Older sister, Isabella Woodcock, ensured it was a double celebration in the family, as she also brought home maximum points for Worcester. Isabella, a breaststroke specialist, showed true class in the girls 11 year old 50m breaststroke, with a commanding victory from the gun, hitting the wall in first place with another sub 40 second swim.
Simon Sweatman (11) produced impressive performances in the boys 11/u 100IM and 11/u 50m backstroke, ensuring maximum points for Worcester County in both events. Sweatman led from the front in both events, easily winning the 100IM in 1.15.68 which was nearly two seconds quicker than his nearest rival from Gloucester and then posted a 33.74 in the 50m back.
William Gearey (11) was also in good form for Worcester, claiming two victories in his 11 year old age group. Gearey produced a massive personal best in the boys 50m fly to win in 32.16, and then secured victory in the 50m freestyle with another sub-30 second time of 29.50.
Sweatman and Gearey were part of the double-winning relay teams for Worcester’s 11 year old boys, joining forces with Worcester’s Matt Richards and Ledbury’s James Casewell to easily win the boy 11 year old 4 x 50m medley relay and then teamed up with Richards and Redditch’s Siljan Isufi to win the 4 x 50m freestyle relay.
Naomi Marsden, who has only just turned 12, found herself up against some strong competition in the 12-13 year old category but held her own against the older girls. Marsden was selected to swim the girls 100m backstroke and didn’t disappoint, claiming an excellent second place and just outside her personal best. Marsden also led off the girls 12-12 year 4 x 50m medley relay team with the backstroke leg.
The first taste of County action for Patrick Heeks and Megan Annis came in relay events. Heeks (10) was picked for both the boys 10 year old 4 x 50m freestyle and 4 x 50m medley relay events, producing strong displays and showing signs of good form going into the Midlands Championships in early June. Annis, who has also recently secured her place at the Midlands, anchored the girls 11 year old 4 x 50m freestyle relay, and despite powering down in the last leg just couldn’t catch her
Tom Naughton, Pershore’s head coach, said: "It’s a real achievement and honour for a club like Pershore to get seven swimmers selected to compete for Worcester County. The standard of competition was extremely high and all the swimmers performed exceptionally well. Special mention must go to Hannah Woodcock for winning both her individual events on her debut for the County!”