18 Jan 2014

Pershore Swimming Club was just edged out into second place by Stourbridge in the first round of the 2014 Worcester Winter League at Bromsgrove at the weekend and beating Orion and the home side. 

There were many strong performances on the night, with Pershore’s u/11 girl and boy swimmers in excellent form.

Pershore started the gala with victory in the mixed 11/u 6 x 25m medley relay, with a dominant display from Naomi Marsden, Isabella Woodcock, Megan Annis, William Gearey, Simon Sweatman and Jamie Saunders finishing nearly a clear length ahead of their nearest rivals.

Hope Rochelle secured third place in the girls 15/u 100m freestyle and Michael Evans grabbed second in the boys 15/u 100m freestyle.  Marsden, swimming up an age group in the 13/u 100m backstroke, was just being edged into second place while Josh Lane put in a superb performance to take victory in the boys 13/u 100m backstroke

Gearey and Annis then added first and second places respectively in the 11/u 50m free in quick succession, and after ten events Pershore found themselves in second place just trailing a few points behind Stourbridge.

Amy Weston produced a strong swim in the girls 13/u 100m fly to take second place, whilst Sweatman secured maximum points with a good victory in the boys 13/u 100m fly.

Marsden and Sweatman were both in action again with little time to rest in the 11/u 50 m backstroke, with Marsden again just missing out on first place taking second and Sweatman made it individual victory number two, with an easy win.

Owen Leeks produced an amazing last 25m leg in the boys 15/u 100m fly, battling back from last place at 75m to snatch second place on the touch and Chloe Naughton grabbed third in the Open 100m fly.

Woodcock and Vizard, both swimming up an age group, secured second places in the girls and boys 13/u 100m breaststroke, and Isobel Cumming also grabbed second in the girls 11/u 50m fly. Sweatman made it three victories from three, again easily winning the boys 11/u 50m fly.

And after 20 events, Pershore had secured their second place position behind Stourbridge and kept Orion at bay.

Woodcock went one better in the girls 11/u 50m breast stroke taking maximum points, and Gearey also produced a strong performance in the boys 11/u 50m breast to make it a double for the team.

Leeks battled hard to take second in the boys 15/u 100m backstroke and Gearey, also required to swim up an age group, produced a strong swim just being edged into second in the 13/u 100m free.

There were also good performances in the older age groups from Helen Annis, Emily Burton, Jack Betteridge, Katie Sharratt, Hannah Simister, Angus Jones and Alice Hall.

With the relays to finish off the gala, the mixed 11/u 6 x 25m freestyle team were in dominant mood, leading from the first leg and taking victory again with almost a length to spare. 

Pershore couldn’t close the gap on Stourbridge, finishing second and ahead of Orion and Bromsgrove.

Tom Naughton, Pershore’s head coach, said:  "This was a good start to our Winter League campaign and we nearly grabbed victory from Stourbridge.  We often have to ask swimmers to compete in older age groups and they never let us down. We look forward to going one better in Round Two!”


All news