PERSHORE Swimming Club sent an all-female team to compete in the annual Gary Winn Memorial Trophy Gala at Redditch last weekend and came away with a hard fought third place at the start of the season.
Pershore found themselves up against two all-female teams from Redditch as well as Kingsbury and Bromsgrove, producing several personal bests and many achieving new County Qualifying Times (CQT).
Jasmine Franks got Pershore off to a flying start with victory in the 10/u 50m freestyle in 33.84 (CQT), while Hannah Simister produced a massive personal best for fourth place in the 14/u 100m freestyle in 1.11.92. Annie Garrett then also produced a new PB in the 9-years 25m breaststroke in 26.99.
Isabella Woodcock snatched third in the 13/u 100m breaststroke, clocking 1.27.16 (CQT), and Naomi Marsden notched up Pershore’s second win in the 12/u 50m backstroke (CQT).
The team’s 11/u 4x25m medley relay team also managed to win, coming home ahead of Redditch’s A team in 1.12.12.
Caitlin Yates just missed out on a CQT in the 10/u 50m breaststroke with an impressive 49.96 to give her third place, while Beth Carter powered to victory in the 14/u 100m breaststroke in 1.22.30 (CQT).
Another victory in the relay soon followed, this time for the much-improving 9-year-old age group who won the 4x25m medley ahead of Kingsbury in 1.25.48 in a very close finish.
The 13/u 4x25m medley team managed to secure third place with 1.08.60 and the 11/u 4x25m freestyle team went one better with second place in 1.04.89.
After ten events, Redditch A team were leading on 51 points, with Kingsbury on 47 and Pershore not far behind on 46 points.
Megan Annis looked strong for second place in the 12/u 50m fly (34.81 CQT) and then won the 11/u 50m breaststroke in 41.29 (CQT, PB) and Isobel Cumming also looked good for fourth in the 13/u 100m fly in 1.26.23 (PB).
Pershore’s 10/u 4x25m medley and 14/u 4x25m medley teams both snatched third places in 1.27.35 and 1.09.81 respectively.
Ellen Cope produced a huge PB in the 11/u 50m backstroke in 41.18 to secure fourth for the team, while Helen Annis pushed hard for third in the Open 100m backstroke in 1.22.57. Annis also produced 1.19.55 in the Open 100m fly for fourth place.
Two more third places for the 9-year 4x25m freestyle and 13/u 4x25m freestyle relay teams helped chip away at Kingsbury’s lead over Pershore.
Isabella Woodcock secured CQT number two with second place in the 12/u 50m breaststroke in 40.22, while Jasmine Taite produced a new PB and bagged a CQT with 1.19.16 in the 14/u 100m IM. Taite produced another PB in the 14/u 100m backstroke in 1.19.17 for a superb second place.
Ceris Styler clocked 1.22.15 (PB) in the Open 100m IM and grabbed third in the Open 100m breaststroke in 1.28.20. Georgia Winkley grabbed fourth in the 9-year 25m fly (21.14) and Charlotte Downey also produced a CQT in the 11/u 50m fly (39.14) as she finished second.
Melissa Radley swam hard in the 12/u 50m freestyle to snatch a good third place in 37.79, while Hannah Woodcock added maximum points for Pershore in the 10/u 50m backstroke in 39.21 (CQT).
Woodcock made it two wins from two by adding victory in the 10/u 50m fly in 39.41 (CQT) and Lauren Annis ensured victory number two for the family by winning the 9-year 25m freestyle in 16.60.
Amy Cooper touched in second in the 13/u 100m IM in 1.22.64, while Marsden managed third place in the 12/u 100m IM in 1.20.03 (CQT).
Taite was soon back in action, this time grabbing second in the 14/u 100m fly in 1.20.56, and Jasmine Hoskins took second in the 9-year 25m backstroke in 22.91.
Marsden produced another CQT in the 13/u 100m backstroke, coming a close second in 1.19.29, while Holly Winkley looked comfortable as she took victory in the 11/u 50m freestyle in 33.69 (CQT).
Marie Porter finished the team’s individual performances with a new PB and fourth place in the Open 100m freestyle in 1.09.78.
The final standings were Redditch A 244 points, Kingsbury 221, Pershore 205, Redditch B 159 and Bromsgrove 69.
