SEVEN youngsters from Pershore Swimming Club travelled down to Somerset to compete in the Level 1 Taunton Deane & Millfield Long Course Open Meet held at the famous Millfield School.

The Pershore squad faced nationally-ranked competitors in all their age groups from the South West region and around the UK, with many looking to put down or improve long course times during the 10 week qualifying period for both the Midland District Championships in Coventry in June and also the new Summer Nations Championships in Sheffield in August.

Pershore’s swimmers proved they can mix it with top class opposition, coming away with 30 medals including seven gold medals, 13 silver and ten bronze medals.

Megan Annis (11) competing in the 10/11 age group produced a fantastic set of results, notching up a staggering eight podium finishes including three gold medals.

Victory for Annis came in the 100m back (1.15.48 MQT), 200m back (2.45.02) and 50m fly (34.09 MQT) smashing personal bests on the way in each event and rising up the UK rankings at the same time. Annis also claimed silver medals in the 50m back (35.72 MQT), 200m free (2.33.32), 200m IM (2.47.77) and 50m breaststroke (40.71 MQT) and then added bronze in 100m breaststroke (1.30.89) – again producing personal bests in each race.

She was unlucky not to add to her overall medal haul, just being edged into fourth in the 100m free (1.10.25) and her efforts were duly recognised as she finished second overall in the Top Girl category for the whole meet.

Simon Sweatman (12) was another swimmer on fire during the weekend and put together a series of strong qualification times for the Summer Nations Championships and winning 8 medals.

Sweatman two best performances came in the 200m free (2.15.35 MQT) and 50m back 31.29 (MQT) to take gold medals in both events.

Despite producing massive long course pbs in most events, Sweatman was up against one of the top 12 year old swimmers from Millfield, having to settle for silver medals in the 400m free 4.45.76 (MQT), 200m back 2.29.47 (MQT), 50m free 28.26 (MQT) and 100m free 1.01.36 (MQT); he also added third places in 100m back 1.10.59 (MQT) and 50m fly 31.29 (MQT).

Will Gearey was also competing in the boys’ 12 year old age group, and despite bagging nine medals, couldn’t quite find the form that he had produced in Sheffield recently.

Gearey’s sole victory came in the 100m breaststroke 1.23.24 (MQT), just outside his personal best.

He came second in the 200m IM 2.34.16 (MQT) , 200m breaststroke 3.00.14 (MQT) and 50m fly 30.82 (MQT) plus third places in 200m back 2.34.54 (MQT), 100m fly 1.11.33 (MQT), 50m free 28.91 (MQT), 100m free 1.01.46 (MQT Pb) and 200m free 2.19.46 (MQT).

Alexandra Barry (11), one of Pershore’s most improved swimmers during the last 12 months, also continued her fine run of form, bagging three medals.

Competing in the girl’s 10/11 age group, Barry stormed to victory and gold in the 50m free 30.97 (MQT), and then battled hard for silver in the 200m back (2.46.07) just behind Annis and her final medal was a bronze in the 100m back (1.17.64).

Barry was another unlucky not to add more medals coming fourth in the 100m fly (1.25.14) and 200m breaststroke (3.24.36).

Amy Weston (13) looks like she is coming to form just at the right time for the Midland District Championships, especially in the backstroke.

Weston produced a huge personal best to claim a superb silver medal in the girls 13 year age group 200m back in 2.35.22 (MQT) and then added a bronze in the 100m back in 1.12.28 (MQT) later in the day.

She was close to bagging two more podium finishes, finishing fourth in both the 50m fly 33.12 (MQT) and 100m fly 1.16.69 and producing strong swims in the 100m free (1.09.76) and 50m free (32.17).

Two other swimmers made the trip down to Millfield and also produced strong swims throughout the weekend against tough opposition.

Naomi Marsden (12) was very unlucky not to medal in her favourite backstroke events, finishing fourth in both the 100m back (1.15.80) and 200m back (2.42.69).

She also produced a MQT in the 50m back (34.88) 50m and swam hard for a 1.10.92 in the 100m free.

Isobel Cumming (12) produced long course personal bests throughout the weekend, with an excellent series of swims including the 400m IM (6.12.78), 100m free (1.12.07), 50m back (39.17), 200m free (2.33.57), 50m fly (36.08), 400m free (5.22.86), 200m IM (2.56.25), 200m back (2.55.90), 100m back (1.24.39), 100m fly (1.23.91) and 50m free (33.35).

Meanwhile, Pershore Swimming Club gave their hopes of staying the First Division of the Nuneaton & District Junior League with a massive performance in Round 2 at Stafford.

Following their tough draw in Round 1, Pershore were up against Stafford Apex, Cannock, Wyre Forest, Leicester Sharks B and Leicester Penguins, and needing to get amongst the points to give their survival chances a real boost.

Lauren Annis got Pershore off to a good start, taking second in the girls 10 year 50m freestyle (35.61) and brother David took maximum points in the boys 9 year 25m breaststroke (23.50).

Another win soon followed, with the girls 11/u 4 x 25m medley team holding off a late challenge from Stafford and there were solid swims from Lewis Cribben in the 50m free (38.46) and Grace Styler in the 25m breaststroke (27.06).

Girl’s junior captain, Megan Annis, then matched her younger brother’s achievement, with a dominant performance in the girls 12/u 50m backstroke (34.48) while Patrick Heeks snatched third in the boy’s event in 37.03.

Pershore’s fourth win came courtesy of Lauren Annis in the girls 10 years 50m breaststroke (48.53) and Robert Thorner clocked 58.13 in the boys event which put the club second overall after ten events just behind the home side Stafford.

Alexandra Barry claimed victory in the girls 12/u 50m fly (33.03) and Hannah Woodcock also bagged maximum points in the girls 11/u 50m backstroke (36.97).

Heeks took fourth in the boys 12/u 50m fly in 35.88 before the boys 9 year 4 x 25m relay took a stunning win in 1.17.94.

Will Gearey, the Boy’s junior captain, never looked troubled as he easily won the boys 12/u 50m breaststroke in a quick time of 37.18 and Jasmine Franks came second in the girls 11/u 50m fly (37.34) to help Pershore’s cause.

David Annis recorded his second victory of the evening, this time winning the 9 year 25m butterfly (18.78).

Barry was edged into second place in the girls 12/u 50m free (30.48) while Gearey remained unbeaten, this time storming to victory in the 12/u 50m free in 27.81.

After 25 events, Pershore were still lying in second place behind Stafford but had opened up a gap on third place Wyre Forest.

James Heeks battled hard for fourth place in the boys 10/u 50m back (46.84) and Jasmine Hoskins grabbed third place in the girl’s equivalent in 42.92.

Ethan Stanley pushed hard for third place in the boys 9 year 25m breaststroke (19.82) and Woodcock secured a valuable second place for Pershore in the 11/u 50m breaststroke (43.06).

Swimming up an age group, David Annis couldn’t quite match his earlier performances but still managed a superb third in the boys 10 years 25m butterfly (19.70).

Andrew Thorner bagged fourth place in the 9 year 25m backstroke in 25.19 and Macey French grabbed a superb win in the girls 11/u 50m free (32.19).

With just the relay events left, Pershore looked to have secured second place, despite Wyre Forest managing to close the gap.

Pershore finished the gala with some dominant performances in the team relays.

First up the girls 12/u 4 x 25m medley team looked unstoppable as the hammered home another win for Pershore in 1.08.63.

Not to be outdone, the boy’s 12/u medley team then made it back-to-back wins, clocking 1.07.91.

The final standings were: 1 Stafford Apex 246 2 Pershore 200 3 Wyre Forest 190 4 Cannock 156 5 Leicester Penguins 136 6 Leicester Sharks A 132

The result after Round 2 moved Pershore to mid table, meaning they should hopefully maintain their place in the top flight.