Worcester Winter League Round 1 - Jan 2015
31 Jan 2015
Pershore Swimming Club was given a hard draw in Round 1 of the Worcester Winter League this weekend, finding themselves up against some of the County’s biggest clubs including Redditch and Halesowen.
Looking to repeat last year’s performance when they secured a place in the Worcester Winter League ‘A’ Final, Pershore could only manage third place despite a brave effort from the whole team.
The mixed 11/u 6 x 25 medley relay team got Pershore off to a good start, snatching an excellent second place in 1.45.26 and only just being beaten by Redditch.
Jasmine Taite took fourth in the 15/u 100m free in 1.07.80, while Callum Sanderson produced a new personal best time of 1.05.32 to also take fourth in the boys 100m free.
Naomi Marsden secured another second place for Pershore in the girls 13/u 100m back in 1.14.73, while Simon Sweatman produced the team’s first maximum points, winning the boys 100m back easily in 1.11.17.
Amy Cooper, only 13, was entered in the Ladies Open 100m fly and produced a fantastic effort for fourth in 1.18.36. Angus Jones pushed hard in the Mens Open 100m fly, producing a Pb of 1.12.20 against some very strong, national swimmers.
Pershore didn’t have to wait long for two more victories, with Megan Annis and Kieran Cooper both securing maximum points. Annis dominated the girl’s 11/u 50m free from the start, winning comfortably in 31.01, while Cooper also looked strong touching in first place in 32.91.
After ten events, Redditch had built a comfortable lead with 53 points, with Halesowen in second with 44 and Pershore on 43 points.
Amy Weston snatched silver in the girls 13/u 100m fly in 1.16.02, while Sweatman made it two wins from two, smashing his rivals with a 1.10.19 by nearly 10 seconds.
Alex Dobell produced a pb in the Ladies Open 100m back with a 1.17.46, and Jones battled hard again with a 1.13.13.
Annis was another swimmer celebrating double wins, taking the 11/u 50m back in 35.10 and producing a new pb on the way and a Midland Qualifying Time (MQT). Patrick Heeks grabbed second place in the boys 50m back, just outside his Pb, clocking 36.63.
Amy Cooper was back in action in the 100m fly again, this time in the 15/u event. Cooper produced a 1.20.19 to take third place, while Chris Vizard also managed third in the boys 100m fly with 1.14.28 (Pb).
Hannah Woodcock (10) swam up several age groups in the girls 13/u 100m breaststroke, showing her competitive spirit to take third place and a new Pb in 1.32.42. Will Gearey stormed to an easy victory in the boys 100m breaststroke, producing an excellent time of 1.21.91(MQT)
After 20 events, Redditch had extended their lead on 103 points, with Halesowen on 89 and Pershore only two points back on 87 points.
Alexandra Barry made it four wins on the night for Pershore, producing a massive Pb of 34.86 to win the girls 11/u 50m fly. Heeks took his second silver of the evening in the 50m fly, touching the wall just behind his Redditch rival in 35.80.
Hannah Simister was third for Pershore in the girls 15/u 100m breaststroke in 1.29.57, while Jack Betteridge claimed fourth in the boy’s event in 1.25.96. Michael Evans produced a 1.03.60 in the Men’s Open 100m free and also 1.28.63 in the 100m breaststroke.
Woodcock, despite producing her first MQT of the year in the girls 11/u 50m breaststroke with another Pb in 42.22, was pushed into second spot by a strong Redditch swimmer. Kieran Cooper couldn’t make it two victories from two but still managed an impressive second in the boys breaststroke in 45.51.
Weston and Sweatman, both swimming up an age groups, took third and second in the girls and boys 15/u 100m back respectively. Weston produced a new Pb of 1.13.12, while Sweatman hit the wall in 1.10.77.
After 30 events, Redditch looked unstoppable on 159 points, while Halesowen had managed to open up a bigger gap on Pershore with 134 and 126 points respectively.
Marsden grabbed second place in the girls 13/u 100m free in 1.09.99, while Gearey dominated the boys 100m free with another MQT in 1.02.70 and winning by a clear margin.
Alice Hall completed Pershore’s individual performances with a 1.29.05 in the Ladies Open 100m breaststroke.
With just the mixed relays left, Pershore had unfortunately too few events left to claw back second place from Halesowen.
Determined to finish the event strongly, Pershore’s 11/u mixed 6 x 25m free team took the fight to Redditch was an amazing win in 1.32.39. The 13/u mixed 6 x 25m free team also produced a phenomenal effort, winning their event in style in 1.25.03, beating both Redditch and Halesowen comfortably. The 15/u relay team battled hard for fourth place, while the Open team found themselves up against formidable opposition.
The final positions were Redditch 212, Halesowen 175, Pershore 166, Oldbury 140, and Perry Beeches 95.
Pershore’s head coach, Tom Naughton, said: "This was always going to be a tough test for our young team and the draw could have been kinder. However, I can’t fault the effort from the whole team and they did the club proud, especially against much bigger clubs. We’ll hopefully receive a slightly easier draw in Round 2 to give us any chance of getting to the A Final!”