A YOUNG Pershore team competed at Sheffield in the Dukeries open meet against swimmers from the north.

For many, it was their first time in a long-course competition and they secured more than 15 podiums.

William Gearey, 11, was voted top boy at the competition with eight wins in the 10 to 11 and 11 to 12 age categories.

He won the 100m breaststroke in one minute 27.04 seconds, 50m butterfly in 33.01, 100m freestyle in 1.05.15, 50m backstroke in 36.49, 100m butterfly in 1.17.64, 50m freestyle in 29.26, 100m backstroke in 1.17.68 and 50m breaststroke in 40.80.

The freestyle time was one of the fastest over long course for his age group in the United Kingdom.

Ronan Williams, 10, and Patrick Heeks, 11, made up the boys' 12 and under team in the 4x50-metre freestyle and 4x50m medley relays.

In the freestyle, Gearey and Chris Vizard ,12, also helped the team to gold in 2.13.28.

Pershore won the medley in 2.28.50.

The girls' 10 and under team of Jasmine Hoskins, Jasmine Franks, Lauren Annis and Alex Barry bagged a freestyle gold in 2.27.29 and medley bronze in 2.52.40.

There were also two bronze medals for the 12 and under relay quartet of Naomi Marsden, Megan Annis, Isobel Cumming and Charlotte Downey.

They clocked 2.32.89 in the medley and 2.16.36 in the freestyle.

Alex Barry won gold in the girls' 10 years 50m backstroke in 41.55 and bronze in the 50m butterfly in 38.03.

She was also fourth in the 50m freestyle.

Jasmine Franks claimed bronze in the 10 years 50m freestyle in 34.96 and was fifth in the 50m breaststroke.

Lauren Annis took silver in the nine years 50m backstroke in 42.18 and was fourth in both the 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke.

Amelia Gearey was seventh in the nine years 50m breaststroke and club-mate Tamara Marsden 10th in the same event.

Megan Annis was third in the 10 to 11 100m breaststroke in 1.33.84 and fourth in the 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke.

Williams grabbed four top-10 places in his individual sprint events.

Heeks, Vizard, Naomi Marsden and Downey also recorded top-10 finishes during a fine day for Pershore.