Taking the plunge in aid of charity - The Evesham Observer

Taking the plunge in aid of charity

Evesham Editorial 18th Sep, 2014 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

PERSHORE Swimming Club members travelled to Bristol at the weekend to take part in SwimBritain, which saw youngsters and some of their parents tackling 1,000m (four legs of 250m) in aid of charity.

SwimBritain is a series of team swimming relays taking place across Britain during September, supported by some of the country’s best loved swimmers including Olympians Rebecca Adlington, Michael Jamieson and Duncan Goodhew.

Seven teams of four took part in the annual event at the 50m pool at Hengrove in Bristol, which saw impressive performances from all and the opportunity to meet some of their Olympic heroes including Great Britain swimmers Jamieson and Jemma Lowe.

The ‘Pershore Trailblazers’ quartet of Chris Vizard, Josh Sharratt, Simon Sweatman and William Gearey managed to come fourth overall, setting a combined team time of 1.01.59.




Not far behind them were two girl relay teams, with Charlotte Downey, Isobel Cumming, Megan Annis and Naomi Marsden – swimming under the team ‘Pershore Veni Natavi Vici’ – managing a fantastic eighth place in 1.05.57 and the ‘Pershore Gills’ team of Hannah Simister, Helena Leach, Holly Simister and Macey French grabbing 12th in 1.14.01.

Fathers Mike Leach and Darren Kirby competed with their sons – Cameron Leach and Owen Kirby – as ‘Pershore Buoys’, looking to smash the time they had set last year.


Mike Leach, who used to swim at national level in his youth, proved he had lost none of his competitive spirit by producing a fantastic time of 16.05 for his 1,000m – which was one of the fastest times for any PSC swimmer. Darren also looked strong, easily beating his time from 2013 and clocking 22.30.

Just behind the ‘Pershore Buoys’ were the quartet of Caitlin Yates, Sophie Thomas, Jasmine Franks and Alexandra Barry. Suitably named ‘Girl Power’, they managed a fantastic 15th position with a time of 1.19.26.

Another set of parents entering SwimBritain for the first time also produced a good set of times. ‘Pershore Plodders’ saw John Sweatman, Sharon French, Simon Barry and Tim Gearey tackling the 1,000m, managing a respectable time of 1.30.22.

The final team, one of the youngest to participate in the event, saw the ‘Starlight Swimmers’ comprising Tamara Marsden, Gabriella Barry, Amelia Gearey and Georgia Winkley produce a time of 1.32.14.

Pershore coach Ian Cumming commented: “There were some amazing individual performances from both young and old swimmers alike and a really good time was had by all.

“It was also great to meet some of the current Great Britain squad and ask them for some top tips. We’ll definitely be back next year and I’m sure some of the parents will be training hard to beat their times too!”

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