PERSHORE handed debuts to several youngsters at the annual Redditch Trophy Gala.

Facing bigger clubs like Worcester and overall winners Leamington, the development squad put in a string of brave displays on the way to finishing fifth with 166 points.

Macey French got Pershore off to a flying start with gold in the girls’ 10-year-old 50- metre freestyle in 35.44 seconds.

After several fifth and sixth places, the boys’ 11 and under 4x25m medley team managed third and so did Naomi Marsden in the girls’ 12 and under 50m backstroke with a new pb.

Chris Vizard and Jasmine Franks added to the team’s total with second places in the boys’ 12 and under 50m backstroke and the girls’ 10 and under 50m breaststroke respectively.

Pershore girls’ and boys’ 11 and under 4x25m freestyle relay teams both finished third.

Josh Sharratt was second in the boys’ 12 and under 50m butterfly.

The girls’ nine-year-old 4x25m freestyle relay team swam to third and Vizard secured another second, this time in the 12 and under 50m breaststroke.

William Gearey added Pershore’s second gold in the boys’ 12 and under 50m freestyle in 29.93, setting one of the quickest times from a 10-year-old in the United Kingdom over the last 12 months.

The boys’ 12 and under 4x25m freestyle relay team were second and Gearey produced victory number three for Pershore in the boys’ 11 and under 50m breaststroke in a new pb of 42.35.

French finished up in second place in the girls’ 10 and under 25m butterfly, Lauren Annis third in the nine-yearold 25m backstroke in 21.43 and older sister Megan second in the 11 and under 50m freestyle.

Gearey then made it three personal wins at the meet in the boys’ 11 and under 50m freestyle in another pb of 29.88.

The boys’ 12 and under 4x25m medley relay team secured second with a strong anchor leg from Patrick Heeks.

Several other swimmers also produced pbs at the event in Redditch, including Liam Cope, Georgia Winkley, Robert Thomer, Isobel Cumming, Jamie Saunders, Max Arris, Tamara Marsden, Charlotte Downey and James Heeks.

Tom Naughton, Pershore’s head coach said: “We were slightly disappointed not to have finished higher but this was a young team and, for many, their first time swimming competitively.”