PERSHORE youngsters tackled Midlands giants as 34 competitors swam at the Stourbridge inter-club friendly gala in Wolverhampton.

The town included first-time competitors and set 49 personal bests but were beaten to fourth place by Kingsbury.

However, they finished ahead of clubs like Camp Hill Edwardians and Perry Beeches.

The nine-year-old girls started with second in the 4x25-metre medley relay through Olivia Howard, Charlotte Downey, Tamara Marsden and Megan Annis.

Pershore’s boys followed with third for Hamish Cross, Luke Betteridge, Cameron Leech and Patrick Heeks.

The relay success was repeated through two third places in the 4x25m freestyles with Howard and Betteridge setting pbs.

They bagged a mixed 4x25m freestyle win via Rebecca Phillips, Izzie Cumming, Downey and Betteridge.

The boys’ 11 and under team were second in their 4x25m freestyle relay through Cross, Chris Vizard, Simon Sweatman and Josh Sharratt.

A personal best came when 10- year-old Sweatman won the 50m freestyle in 30.39 seconds.

Another win followed in the 13 and under girls’ 50m butterfly through Tazmin Pugh in 31.04.

Pugh was second in the open 100m backstroke before winning the 15 and under 50m freestyle and butterfly.

Drew Jones took the boys’ 13 and under 50m breaststroke in 42.11. Sharratt was second in the 11 and under 50m backstroke and third in the 50m butterfly.

Tessa Carr also impressed, while Emily Burton set pbs in the 15 and under section as did Phillips in the 11 and unders.

In the open relays, Alex Dobell (2) and Helen Annis managed new pbs and Angus Jones followed suit.

Ella Spencer and Drew Jones broke personal records in the 15 and under backstroke, while Jasmine Taite, Holly Winkley, Melissa Radley, Lizzie Vizard, Megan Reeves and Katie Sharratt also shone.

Josh Lane was fifth in the boys’ 13 and under freestyle.

Jack Betteridge, Benjamin Clarke, Callum Sanderson and Michael Evans all gained pbs.