TWO youngsters from Pershore Swimming Club have headed to Sheffield this week to compete in the new Summer National Championships.
Simon Sweatman (13) and Will Gearey (12) have both qualified for this year’s new format which sees the top 24 English age group ranked swimmers invited to compete at the 50m event at Ponds Forge International Pool complex in Sheffield.
Both boys will be competing in the combined 12/13-year age group.
Sweatman has qualified for four events and will be going for gold in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 50m freestyle.
Sweatman’s best chance of a medal comes in the 100m and 200m backstroke in which he has qualified strongly and will be hoping to secure a place in the finals. He currently sits in the top 25 (British rankings) for all four events, with current personal bests being the 50m backstroke (32.14), 100m backstroke (1.07.72), 200m backstroke (2.25.56) and 50m freestyle (28.02).
Younger team-mate Gearey has managed to qualify for his age group a year earlier, as a strong long course performance in the 50m fly in Sheffield back in April secured his place at the championships.
Gearey is amongst only a few 12-year-olds competing in the combined age group and will also be hoping to make the final. He goes in ranked 16th with a time of 30.32.
2015 has been an amazing year for both boys, with Sweatman and Gearey both dominating their age groups at the County Championships, winning a staggering seven medals each and also representing Worcestershire ASA again this year.
Both boys also won gold medals at the Midland ASA Championships.