PROMISING Vale swimmer Will Gearey returned with numerous medals to his name having competed against nationally-ranked opposition at the City of Bristol International Open Meet.
With the action taking place in Hengrove’s 50m pool, this Level 1 meet was an opportunity for Gearey, who swims for Worcester Swimming Club, to improve his national ranking positions for the forthcoming British and Home Nations Age Group Championships later this summer.
The St Egwin’s Middle School pupil battled for medals in the boys’ 13-year-old age group and secured podium finishes in several events against formidable opposition.
Gearey was looking to improve his rankings following his recent outing at High Wycombe in March and he proved to be in excellent form.
Gold medals came in the 100m freestyle (59.10) and 50m fly (28.38), with the latter taking him up to 11th in the British rankings (13/14 age group) and hopefully securing a place at the British Championships a year early.
He continued to produce personal bests across the weekend, adding silver in the 100m breaststroke (1.19.25) and 100m fly (1.05.26), as well as bronze medals in the 200m IM (2.25.63), 200m freestyle (2.10.60) and 50m freestyle (27.14).
Gearey’s rankings are currently high enough to secure invites to the Home Nations Championships in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle and 200m IM and he is chasing improvements in the 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke.
Gearey’s next major swimming event is the new West Midlands Age Group Championships later this month in Coventry. He is ranked number one across many of the events and will be up against stiff opposition from City of Birmingham and City of Coventry.
At the Midlands Championships in 2015 he finished with a staggering 11 medals and the highly acclaimed Top Boy award.
