LEDBURY and District fielded a strong team in the National Arena League second round in Droitwich.

An improved club performance yielded 18 first places and 19 individual personal best times.

The Ledbury swimmers have been working hard under new head coach, Duncan Loraine.

His attention to detail has started to pay off with much-improved race skills, particularly using the underwater phase on both starts and turns.

Throughout the gala, Leicester were the main rivals and eventually beat Ledbury into second place by 12 points.

Assistant coach Tom Stokes set a fine example to his swimmers with convincing wins in both the 200-metre individual medley and 100m breaststroke.

Alongside senior swimmers, Pete Crocombe, Alex Middleton, Tom Harris, Elliot Heath and Bradley Williams, he also helped secure top points in the freestyle and medley relays.

Girls’ captain Ellie Ainsworth also led by example, winning two individual freestyle events.

Other double winners were William Hughes in the 10 to 11 years backstroke and breaststroke and Matt Thomas in the 13 and under butterfly and freestyle.

Both boys swam faster personal best times.

Lucy Stokes travelled back from university to support the team and secured vital points.

She bagged a first place in the open age group 100m butterfly.

Alex Middleton also returned to swim and was victorious in the 100m open freestyle in a respectable 57.31 seconds.

Swimming in the 13-and-under age group, Eve Watson showed fine form with new personal best times in both the medley and freestyle relays.

She also won the individual 100m backstroke.

In the same event for the boys, Seb Roffey swam well to add another first place to the tally.

The butterfly swimmers showed well, with impressive swims producing first places for Daisy Wood in the 10 to 11 age group and Tom Harris in the open category.

Just pipped to the finish but with new best times were William Kennedy, Lily Wood and Harry Bloxsome.

The relay races were hard-fought with top points being spread among Solihull, Tewkesbury, Leicester and Ledbury.

Their 13-and-under boys, Malachi Cashmore, Robert Wilson, Bryn Batten, Thomas and Roffey, proved too strong to catch in their events.

Ledbury’s 15 and under boys, Williams, Eric Harris, Thomas and captain Heath, also won.

At the end of a close and exciting gala, Loraine said: “This was a strong result for Ledbury and District and I am pleased to see so many swimmers excel.

“I can’t ask for more than for someone to swim faster than they ever have before.

“Unfortunately, we had a few swimmers absent and some had to swim extra events, which they tackled extremely well and supported each other throughout the gala.

“We are now looking to some further improved results at the Hereford Open event next weekend.”

The swimming club caters for swimmers from age six.

Any prospective member can arrange a trial at Ledbury Pool or Malvern College by prior arrangement via their website at ladasc.co.uk.