Wyre Forest Open Meet - Dec 2014
20 Dec 2014
Pershore Swimming Club took a 20 strong team to compete in the Wyre Forest Open Meet at Wolverhampton Central Baths, finishing the season strongly with numerous podiums and smashing personal bests.
In the boys 10 year age group, Cameron Leach managed to win a bronze in the 50m free with a time of 37.01.
Patrick Heeks (11), who has already achieved most of his County Qualifying Times (CQT) and now chasing Midland Qualifying Times (MQT) for 2015, dominated in the his age group. Heeks was too powerful for the opposition in several events, winning five gold medals and three silver medals. Victories came for Heeks in the 100m IM (1.22.42), 100m back (1.18.06), 100m free (1.11.11), 50m (36.83) and 50m free (33.19), while second places were secured in the 200m IM (2.57.64), 100m fly (1.21.11) and 50m breast (46.69).
Jamie Saunders was another PSC swimmer battling for medals in the 11 year age group, with silver medals coming in the 50m fly (38.82) and 50m free (34.43).
Chris Vizard (12) was in superb form throughout the day, and another who dominated his age group, claiming a staggering six gold medals and two silver medals. Vizard claimed first places in the 200m IM (2.41.47), 100m IM (1.15.83), 100m free (1.05.40), 100m breast (1.27.44), 50m breaststroke (40.61) and 50m free (29.87). He was unlucky not to make it a straight run of gold medals, just being edged in second places in 100m back (1.15.43) and 50m back (35.28).
Luke Perry, also in the 12 year age group, was also in great shape, produced several pbs during the day and fought hard with Vizard for podium finishes. Perry’s best event was the 100m IM in which he snatched a superb silver in a time of 1.19.91. Perry then racked up five bronze medals, with excellent third place finishes in the 100m back (1.18.12), 100m free (1.09.91), 50m free (31.51), 50m breast (43.58) and 50m back (36.51).
In the 16 and over age group, Angus Jones came away with silver in the 100m back (1.11.44) and bronze in the 50m back with 33.75.
It was a similar success story for Perhore’s girl swimmers who also found that they dominating the podium and several new faces also got amongst the medals.
There was double delight for Lauren Annis in the 9 year old age group, securing good wins in the 50m free (36.65) and 50m breast (49.36) as well as adding to her growing collection of CQTS. Annis looks one of many young swimmers to watch in the future coming through Pershore’s ranks.
In the 10 year age group, Caitlin Yates bagged three silver medals and was unlucky not to add to her tally. Yates swam hard to take silver medals in the 200m IM (3.16.22), the 100m breast (1.41.33) and 50m breast (46.75, and was another who smashes pbs during the day and secured additional CQTs.
Alexandra Barry (11) won eight medals during the day, with two gold medals. Victories for Barry came in both medley events, with wins in the 200m IM (2.57.13) and 100m IM (1.25.03) highlighting her overall strength in all four swimming disciplines. Silver medals were won in the 50m fly (37.81) and 100m free (1.16.31) plus Barry then added four third place finishes in the 100m breast (1.41.02), 100m back (1.26.01), 100m fly (1.34.25) and 50m free (33.68) to complete an excellent weekend’s swimming.
Macey French was also competing in the 11 year age group, and was another tasting podium success. French’s best swim came in the gruelling 100m fly (1.31.35) where she stormed to a fantastic first place. French then added bronze medals in the 200m IM (3.04.64) and 100m IM (1.26.81) again showing her all round potential in the sport.
Charlotte Downey (11) also got amongst the medals. Downey edged out team mate French to claim silver in the 200m IM (3.01.95) and then produced strong performances in the 50m fly (39.62) and 50m back (39.15) to snatch bronze medals in both.
Holly Winkley made sure Pershore dominated the podium in the 11 year group, adding silver medals in the 100m breast (1.40.51) and 50m back (37.30) to the club’s overall total.
In the 12 year age category, Naomi Marsden claimed second place in the 200m IM (2.49.43) and third in the 50m breaststroke (42.99). Marsden also had a couple of fourth place finishes.
Amy Weston (13) won gold in the 100m back - one of her strongest events. Weston easily won gold in the 100m back with a time of 1.15.97 and moved nearer the MQT for 2015. She then took silver medals in the 100m fly (1.19.35) and 50m back (35.03).
Pershore’s Katie Sharratt competed in the 16 and over category, enjoying considerable success. Sharratt bagged seven medals including four gold medals. First places for Sharratt came in the 100m IM (1.24.56), 50m free (33.57), 100m back (1.20.70) and 100m free (1.14.40). She then added silver medals in the 100m fly (1.22.86) and 50m back (37.64) plus bronze in the 50m fly (35.77).
Other swimmers competing at Wyre Forest who just missed out on medals but produced pbs or secured new CQTS included Gabriella Barry (9), Georgia Winkley (9), Amelia Gearey (10), Sophie Thomas (10), Jasmine Hoskins (10), Tamara Marsden (10), Owen Kirby (11), Ronan Williams (11), Isobel Cumming (12), Josh Sharratt (13), Helena Leach (13), Hannah Simister (13) and Andrew Jones (14).