Worcester took a 40-plus team to compete at the Gloucester Open (Level 3) Meet, with numerous swimmers bagging several medals within the various age categories and many achieving County Qualifying Times (CQT) for 2017.
In youngest age group, William Thomas picked up a silver medal in the boy’s 9 year 100m IM with a massive personal best (Pb) time of 1.43.29.
Massie Lyons, competing in the girl’s 10 year age group, was in excellent form and won five medals. Lyons’ best event came in the 50m breaststroke (44.44) in which she grabbed gold. She then added silver medals in the 200m breaststroke (3.37.97) and 50m back (41.29) plus was edged into the bronze medal position in both the 100m breaststroke (1.40.15) and 100m back (1.28.85). Olivia Eggleton was also competing in this age group, producing a superb effort in the 200m breaststroke to claim gold in 3.34.81 and snatched silver in the 50m breaststroke (44.99).
In the boy’s 10 year age group, David Annis swam strongly all weekend to win seven medals, four which were gold. Victories for Annis came in the 200m free (2.33.44), 100m back (1.35.38), 50m free (32.93) and 50m fly (36.74), having to settle for silver medals in the 50m back (43.29), 100m fly (1.22.75) and 100m back (1.35.38).
There were four Worcester swimmers amongst the medals in the Girl’s 11 year age group. Lauren Annis nearly made it a clean sweep of gold medals, claiming six victories in total and the pick of her swims the 400m freestyle. Annis bagged gold medals in the 50m free (31.79), 50m breaststroke (42.07), 50m back (35.36), 100m free (1.09.64), 200m back (2.49.45) and 400m free (5.31.56). She was pushed into second place in the 100m breaststroke (1.31.42). Aimee Monks also grabbed gold, with a good swim in the 100m fly (1.22.54) enough to see of her rivals. She also won bronze in the 50m fly (36.70). Amelia Gearey stepped on the podium twice, with silver in the 200m breaststroke (3.24.53 and bronze in the 50m breaststroke (43.46). Lydia Cooper also grabbed a podium, with a strong all round swim in the 100m IM (1.28.11)
In the boy’s 12 year age group, Owen Kirby grabbed his first medal wearing a Worcester hat, with silver in the 100m IM (1.22.49). Rebecca Yates bagged a brace of gold medals in the girl’s 12 year age group, with excellent performance in the 100m back (1.13.58) and 200m back (2.34.02).
Megan Annis claimed three gold medals in the girl’s 13 year age category, with first places in the 50m free (28.98), 100m fly (1.10.74) and 200m back (2.28.74). She was edged into second in the 100m back (1.11.51) and also picked up bronze medals in the 50m breaststroke (38.11) and 100m free (1.04.17).
Jennifer Gearey was dominant in the girl’s 14 year age group, with an impressive haul of five gold medals and two silver medals. Victories for Gearey came in the 50m free (29.17), 50m fly (32.05), 100m fly (1.14.43), 100m free (1.03.77) and 200m back (2.27.31). She then picked up silver medals in the 200m free (2.17.53) and 200m IM (2.34.77) to round off an excellent weekend’s racing.
Daisy Kearley picked up a trio of third places, with bronze medals in the 50m fly (34.29), 100m fly (1.20.18) and 200m free (2.29.51) while Lauren Hughes, also competing in the 14 year category, produced a superb swim in the 200m breaststroke (3.09.94) to snatch silver and snatched second in the 100m IM (1.21.87).
Worcester’s boys competing in the 14 year age group were also on fire, with Harvey Lloyd and Kai Gooden-Morris producing the goods. Lloyd continuing to impress in the breaststroke made it double gold, winning both the 100m (1.13.94) and 200m breaststroke (2.45.12) in dominant fashion. He added bronze medals in the 100m free (59.69) and 50m fly (30.21). Gooden-Morris ensured Worcester had two boys on the podium in the 100m breastroke, taking third in 1.14.83. He also picked up silver in the 50m free (27.23).
Eleanor Niel added to Worcester’s gold medal tally with two victories in breaststroke. Wins came in the 50m breaststroke (36.16) and 100m breaststroke (1.20.09) in the 15 year age group.
Worcester’s Club Captain, Caitlin Adair, battled hard all weekend to get amongst the medals in the 16 year and over age group. Adair’s best performance came in the 100m breaststroke, winning gold in 1.22.51. She then added three more bronze medals in the gruelling 400m IM (5.42.00), the 400m free (5.20.27) and 100m back (1.16.51).
The final medal of the weekend for Worcester came courtesy of Alex Hughes who claimed silver in the boy’s 16 year and over 400m free in 4.48.90.
Jon Fletcher, Worcester’s assistant head coach, commented: “There were so many excellent results from the entire squad, and although it’s hard to single out other swimmers who didn’t get amongst the medals, Lottie Martin and Hannah Dixon both deserve special mentions for strong performances throughout the weekend.”