Worcester County Championships 2013
05 Mar 2013
Pershore Swimmers enjoy two glorious days at the races.
Pershore swimmers enjoyed the best ever results at this year's County (Hereford & Worcester) Swimming Championship and this only from the first of three weekends their medal haul so far being their first overall County Championship trophy, seven County Age Group Championship records thirty placing medals with eighteen of them gold, nine silver and three bronze placing the Pershore club amongst the elite of the two Counties and yet only a quarter to half of the size of other clubs. With forty personal bests (pb's) being achieved from 59 swims
Naomi Marsden with some great pb's going on to win the girls 10yr 50m Back (37.54) gold and silver in the 100m Back (1.22.17), together with good swims in the 100m IM 200m Free now joins the club's elite contingent to qualify for the Midland District (9 Counties) Champs in June. One of Pershore's youngest swimmers was nine year old Megan Annis again with impressive pb's was also on the medal rostrum winning gold in the 50m Fly (41.32) and bronze in the 100m Individual Medley (IM) in 1.34.85 narrowly pipped to 4th in the 200m Breaststroke with 4.00.61.
Staying with the nine year olds Hannah Woodcock and Charlotte Downey were by no means fazed by their first Championship appearances. Hannah set great pb's in the 50m Back in 43.69 and the 100m IM (1.35.40). Ten year old Izzie Cumming set a 4 seconds pb in the 200m Freestyle whilst Amy Weston and Lizzie Vizard enjoyed their County Champs with more good times. Hannah's elder sister Isobella Woodcock was outstanding in the 200m Breaststroke taking silver in a time of 3.30.27.
In the 10 year old boys group Simon Sweatman sped his way to a spectacular seven golds and a silver from just eight swims, so far. It is unsure if this has ever been bettered but what is sure is whilst gaining personal bests in every swim Simon climbed to 1st in the UK end of year rankings in five of the events and 2nd in two more and this feat may be unprecedented from just the first two days of championship competition. With three County Age Group Championship performance best times broken as well it was truly a weekend to remember for the club his school of Abbey Park Middle and Simon's family in particular.
Simon took the 10 yr age group titles in the 100 Individual Medley IM (1.19.03 1stin UK & County Record); the 50m ( 23.71 & 1st in UK) and 100m Butterfly (1.23.42 & 1st in UK); 50m (35.42) and 100m Backstroke (1.15.82 & 1st in UK & County Record) together with the 200m Freestyle (2.28.03 & 2nd in UK & County Record) and the 400m IM (6.03 59). Fellow school pupil Josh Sharratt (also yr 5) was also present in three events and set his own personal bests in the 200m Free (2.42.26), 100m Back (1.27.99), 50m Fly 39.26 and 50m Back (41.35).
Another ten year old to impress was William Gearey taking silver medals in the boys 10 yr age group 200m Free (2.37.86), 50m Back (39.41), 100m Back (1.24.22) and 100m IM (1.25.92) with bronze in the 50m Fly (38.74). Whilst nine year old Luke Betteridge set a pb in the 200m breast coming home in 5th place. Angus Jones (14) qualified in two events in the 50m (33.05) and 100m Back setting pb's in the latter with 1.10.15. Owen Leeks excelled in three events in the 50m Fly and Back and 200m Free whilst Jake Spencer recorded 33.59 in the 50m Fly.
Harry Sykesrecorded 2.51.73 in the 200m Breast and 31.41 in the 50m Fly with Luke Betteridge (9) in his first ever County Champs set a pb in the 200m Breast of 4.04.58. It was no medal ceremony so far for Chris Vizard (11) on this occasion with 3.35.76 recorded for the 200m Breast, 50m Back (40.39) and 200m Free 2.40.15. Another debut at the Counties was Josh Lane (12) swimming to a pb in the 50m Back with 38.06 as too id Callum Sanderson in the 200m Free in 2.36.28.