Ledbury swimmers set new records

Younger swimmers took part in the 25m breastroke, producing many fine swims. In the boys’ 7/U age group, Callum Berry took top honours in a closely fought contest, with Charles Toby taking silver and Lucas Dewe awarded the bronze. The girls’ race saw Alina Allison taking gold with Kia Ballantyne and Ariana Davison, silver and bronze respectively. In the 8 year age group, both the boys and girls event witnessed very close races. Sam Hall, Christopher Malone and Harry Bloxsome were 1st, 2nd and 3rd for the boys, Isabella Dewe won gold for the girls, Ruby Davies won silver and Georgia Baxter the bronze.

Older swimmers competed in the 100m breaststroke. Charlie Docherty and Sophie Green won gold in the 9/10 age group Sally Fitzpatrick, swimming in the 11/12 girls age group set a new record for a 12yr old to win gold. Leah Heath won silver and in the process set a new record for an 11yr old. In the boy’s race, Fred Van Vuren was a clear winner. In the 13/14 age group George Parsons took gold in the boy’s event, Emma Fitzpatrick gold in the girls. In the 15/over age group, gold was awarded to Sam Jones in the boy’s event, setting a new club record. The girl’s event was won by Eloise Van Vuren.

The 25m Novices produced some fine performances with only a second separating top honours. In the boys’ event, Rhodri Whittaker won the gold Joseph Cotton silver and Harry Harris, bronze. Millie Park took gold in the girls’ event, Mollie-May Parsons and Georgia Baxter silver and bronze respectively. The trophy for being the fastest girl ‘Novice’ winner in the year. was awarded to Calypso Harvey. The boy’s ‘Novice’ trophy was awarded to Charlie Docherty. 7yr old Eleanor Houlbrooke and 8yr old Ollie Jones were presented with ‘Improver’ cups, as the girl and boy who have shown good progress with their swimming.

The next event, the 50m backstroke saw Michael Adair and Laura Quigley take gold in the 11/12 yr age group, both setting new club records for 11yr olds. Records were also broken by Sam Jones and Eloise Van Vuren in the 15/O age group, both of whom took gold. other winners in this event were Caitlin Clark and Daniel Adair in the 13/14 age group, with silver and bronze going to Chris Leitch and George Parsons for the boys and Lucy Stokes and Alice Quigley for the girls. The 9/U girls produced some very close finishes, Sophie Green taking top honours. Joseph Cotton won gold in the boy’s event. Victory in the 10yr age group went to William Park for the boys and Calypso Harvey for the girls.

The final event of the afternoon required the most endurance, the 200m Individual Medley. Swimmers were tired, but this did not prevent them from posting some very respectable times and setting no fewer than 5 new club records. Joseph Cotton and Sophie Green were victors in the 9/U age group, Sophie in a new club record time. William Park and Penny Green took gold in the 10yr age group, William in a new club record time. Michael Adair and Sally Fitzpatrick won gold in the 11/12 age group; Laura Quigley set a new club record for an 11yr old to take the bronze. The 13/14 age group was won by George Parsons and Lucy Stokes, Lucy in a new club record time. Gold in the 15/O age group was awarded to Sam Jones, again in a new club record time. Eloise van Vuren won the girl’s event.