Worcester Swimming Club hosted its 13th annual Open Meet over the weekend of 23rd-25th October.  Always a popular competition, this year proved no exception - with the Meet attracting a record number of competitors including large entries from some of the Midlands leading Clubs including Boldmere and Halesowen.

The Worcester swimmers acquitted themselves extremely well - in total winning 67 medals!  Many of these were won by Jonathan Edwards and Tabitha Monkhouse who as the most successful swimmers of the Meet were awarded "Top Boy" and "Top Girl" trophies.

In the 13/14 age group, Jonathan won 9 medals, 3 of them Gold.  Whilst the 50m Freestyle was arguably his most important victory - securing first place in the Boys' medal table in what was effectively a swim-off with his main rival - he showed his versatility by also winning the 400m Individual Medley and his potential with a blistering 2.24.21 in the 200m Backstroke.

Tabitha racked up an incredible 11 medals, also in the 13/14 age group.  Eight of them were Gold with first places in the 200m Freestyle, 200m Individual Medley, 50, 100 & 200m Butterfly plus 50, 100 & 200m Breaststroke - the last of these in a stunning 2.45.38, nine seconds clear of her nearest rival and quick enough to have beaten all the boys too!

Many other Worcester swimmers excelled too, most notably James Marsh - who got the reward for all his hard work in training.  An impressive winner of the 11/12's 400m Individual Medley, he also won the 50m Backstroke - something of a surprise for a swimmer more renowned for his Butterfly and Breaststroke, strokes on which he won more medals in the 50, 100 & 200m events.

Club Captains Adam Whitaker and Hayley Weaver were also multiple medallists.  Competing in the 17 & over age group, Adam led by example winning the 400m IM and collecting a further six silver/bronze medals whilst Hayley, back from University in Birmingham, won four medals including Gold in the 50m & 100m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly.

In the 15/16 age group, Hollie Horton made an excellent return to form, especially in the Freestyle events winning both the 200m & 400m events in terrific Personal Best times.

In the 13/14 age group, Emily Holland put illness behind her to win the 400m IM and team mate Cara Lee notched up a fine brace of victories with strong performances in the 50m Backstroke and 100m Freestyle.

There were also medals for Jack Weston, Chris Edwards, James Allen, Joel Smith, Simon Kitchen, Francesca Daniels, Nixie Turner, Alice O'Toole, Sarah Cowin and Nicole Gasic.

Head Coach Mark Stowe was thrilled: "Being our own Open Meet, this has been the number one target since we returned to full training after the Summer - so I was delighted with the swimmers' performances; close to 200 Personal Best times tells its own story!"