EVESHAM Swimming Club enjoyed a hugely successful Worcestershire County Championships campaign at the start of 2024.

Over two weekends in January and the first week in February, a record 60 swimmers qualified for the club in 487 events.

Once again, Milton Xavier Yau had an astonishing Championship, following up his debut at the Champs in 2023. Entering in all eighteen events, he won 17 gold medals and one silver.

Milton, 11, competed in the 12 and under category at the champs and was also awarded the overall competition Best Male swimmer award. This was based on accumulating the highest number of points across all of the age group categories at the Championship. 

A further six swimmers secured the accolade of County Champion in a number of events. Harry Holme (400 Free, 200 Fly, 200 IM, 200 Back, 200 Free), Ruby Keetley (800 Free), Mollie Broom (400 IM), Molly Houghton (800 Free), Abby Voss (200 Fly) and Sophia James (50 Back) all took home gold.

In total, 52 swimmers took the plunge to compete in the Championships this year, representing the club in a total of 361 events across the three weekends. An incredible 72% of the swims were Personal Best times achieved which shows the amazing progress for all involved.

The club recorded a record number of swimmers qualifying for Finals this year also. In all 50m and 100m events swimmers must aim to qualify in the top 8 swimmers in their age group to compete in the final. Evesham Swimming Club was represented 84 times during the Championship which improved last year’s achievement by 40% (an extra 24 finals). This was achieved impressively by 23 different swimmers.

In addition to the 27 gold medals scooped by our County Champions, the club won a further 20 Silver medals and 23 Bronze.

The impressive count of 70 medals was spread across an impressive 16 different club members. Our medallists include; Jasper Siupa, Ed Rice, Megan Harrison, Zofia Patyk, Victor Dimitrov, Abigail Griffiths, William Blackbird, Jennifer McGuire, Poppy Walker, Molly Houghton, Abby Voss, Mollie Broom, Sophie James, Ruby Keetley, Harry Holme, Milton Xavier Yau. The medal haul this year doubles the tally recorded in 2023.

Following the County Championships, the club now currently has 13 Regional Qualifiers at the club (more than at the same point last year) that will be eligible to compete at the West Midland Champs in April/May. These swimmers include; Ed Rice (14 events), Milton Xavier Yau (17), Sophia James (6), Sophie Walters (2), Mollie Broom (13), Molly Houghton (9), Annabelle Blackbird (5), Zofia Patyk (3), Jasper Siupa (11), Harry Holme (2), Syd Byrd (1), Ruby Keetley (6), Poppy Walker (1).

Head Coach, Graham Begley congratulated the swimmers: "It has been an amazing journey over the years building up to my final Champs with Evesham Swimming Club.

"All the swimmers have worked extremely hard over their years in the swimming club and they deserve all the success they are experiencing now. It has been a privilege to support them through the process and I am sure they will all continue to be successful in the pool and beyond."