EIGHT Pershore swimmers produced a string of personal bests at the British Gas Midland Age Group Championships in Coventry.

William Gearey secured top 10 placings in nine boys' 11 years events, including a silver medal in the 100m freestyle, and was fifth in the British Age Group Categories (BAGCAT) ranking points.

Gearey swam a new long-course pb of one minute 5.41 seconds to secure his runners-up spot, which took him to second in the United Kingdom end-of-year rankings.

He clocked 2.43.64 to book his 200m individual medley final place, ending up fourth in 2.45.02.

At the longer distance, he did a new pb of 5.46.41 to take another fourth spot.

Gearey recorded other pbs, including 2.26.04 in the 200m freestyle (sixth), 2.43.13 in the 200m backstroke (sixth), 1.28.80 in the 100m breaststroke (seventh), 1.17.97 in the 100m butterfly (seventh), 3.10.14 in the 200m breaststroke (ninth) and 5.10.12 in the 400m freestyle (ninth).

Simon Sweatman sealed his best placing in the 12 years 100m backstroke with eighth in 1.13.72.

Battling hard against strong opposition, Sweatman secured top 20 placings, posting 1.16.30 in the 100m butterfly (14th), 2.39.35 in the 200m backstroke (18th), 2.41.71 in the 200m individual medley (19th) and 5.43.94 in the 400m individual medley (20th).

He also did 1.06.09 in the 100m freestyle, 2.44.55 in the 200m freestyle and 5.43.94 in the 400m individual medley.

Patrick Heeks enjoyed several strong performances in his first district championship.

He grabbed two top 10 finishes in the 10 years backstroke events, producing 1.22.48 in the 100m (ninth) and 2.52.20 in the 200m (10th).

Megan Annis, another district newcomer, managed a big long-course pb of 1.20.99 in the girls' 11 years 100m backstroke.

Isabella Woodcock, who won silver in the 100m breaststroke last year, swam 1.31.93 in the heats to secure a top 20 position in the 11-year-old age group.

In the 12 years 100m backstroke, Naomi Marsden clocked 1.16.58 for 16th place as one of the best West Midlands entrants.

Amy Weston enjoyed a long-course pb of 1.19.89 in the same event.

Beth Carter, in the 14-year-old age group, did 1.23.17 in the 100m breaststroke.

Pershore head coach Tom Naughton said: “The standard of competition at the Midlands is just below national and I’m extremely proud of all our swimmers.

"Every one of them fought hard to produce new long-course pbs and they certainly flew the flag proudly for Pershore.

"I’m sure they’ll all take valuable experience from this, which will come in useful at the next long-course competition.”