PERSHORE finished third after being handed a tough draw in the Worcester Winter League first round.

They secured a place in the 2014 ‘A’ final but found Redditch, on 212 points, and Halesowen (175) too tough in this year’s opener.

The Vale swimmers bagged 166 points ahead of Oldbury (140) and Perry Beeches (95).

Pershore head coach Tom Naughton said: “This was always going to be a tough test for our young team and the draw could have been kinder.

“However, I can’t fault the effort from the whole team and they did Pershore proud, especially against much bigger clubs.

“We’ll hopefully receive a slightly easier draw in round two to give us any chance of getting to the ‘A’ final.”

Simon Sweatman produced the team’s first maximum points, winning the boys’ 13/u 100-metre backstroke easily in one minute 11.17 seconds.

Sweatman also saw off his rivals in the 13/u 100m butterfly in 1.10.19.

Pershore’s Megan Annis and Kieran Cooper won the girls’ and boys’ 11/u 50m freestyle in 31.01 and 32.91 respectively.

Annis also took the 50m backstroke in 35.10, which was a personal best and Midland championship qualifying time (MQT).

Will Gearey won easily in the boys’ 13/u 100m breaststroke with a MQT of 1.21.91.

He also dominated the 13/u 100m freestyle with another MQT of 1.02.70.

Alexandra Barry produced a massive PB of 34.86 to win the girls’ 11/u 50m butterfly.

Determined to finish the event strongly, Pershore’s 11/u mixed 6x25m freestyle relay team took the fight to Redditch with a success in 1.32.39.

The 13/u mixed 6x25m freestyle relay team also won their event in style in 1.25.03.

Second places: mixed 11/u 6x25 medley relay (1.45.26), Naomi Marsden (girls’ 13/u 100m backstroke, 1.14.73; 13/u 100m freestyle, 1.09.99), Amy Weston (girls’ 13/u 100m butterfly, 1.16.02), Patrick Heeks (boys’ 11/u 50m backstroke, 36.63; 11/u 50m butterfly, 35.80), Hannah Woodcock (girls’ 11/u 50m breaststroke, 42.22 MQT), Kieran Cooper (boys’ 11/u 50m breaststroke, 45.51), Sweatman (boys’ 15/u 100m backstroke, 1.10.77).

Thirds: Amy Cooper (girls’ 15/u 100m butterfly, 1.20.19), Chris Vizard (boys’ 15/u 100m butterfly, 1.14.28), Woodcock (girls’ 13/u 100m breaststroke, 1.32.42), Hannah Simister (girls’ 15/u 100m breaststroke, 1.29.57), Weston (girls’ 15/u 100m backstroke, 1.13.12).

Fourths: Jasmine Taite (girls’ 15/u 100m freestyle, 1.07.80), Callum Sanderson (boys’ 15/u 100m freestyle, 1.05.32), Amy Cooper (women’s open 100m butterfly, 1.18.36), Jack Betteridge (boys’ 15/u 100m breaststroke, 1.25.96), 15/u mixed 6x25m freestyle relay.