A YOUNG Pershore team held off a late challenge from the hosts to win the John Neale Trophy Gala at Redditch.

The club’s first silverware of 2015 was achieved by more than 15 points on 210 with Redditch managing 193, Kingsbury 188, Blythe 176, Bromsgrove 141 and Stratford 126.

Pershore head coach Tom Naughton said: “What a great way to start 2015 with another trophy.

“We handed several competitive debuts to several swimmers and they all performed tremendously.”

The town club’s first win was thanks to the girls’ 11/u 4x25-metre medley relay team, who clocked one minute 20.09 seconds.

Jasmine Franks claimed the 12/u 50m backstroke (42.89) and Jasmine Hoskins bagged the 10/u 50m breaststroke (53.86).

Win number four came from Holly Winkley in the 12/u 50m butterfly (41.31) and Kieran Cooper made it back-to-back victories by taking the boys’ equivalent event in 38.88.

Hoskins finished first in the girls’ 11/u 50m backstroke (43.50) and Franks also won the 12/u 50m breaststroke (45.99).

Maximum points were claimed by the girls’ 10/u 4x25m freestyle relay team and 8x25m freestyle relay (2.22.95) as well as Gabriella Barry in the 10/u 50m backstroke (45.88).

The Vale club’s relay teams enjoyed consecutive victories in the girls’ and boys’ 12/u 4x25m freestyle in 1.03.49 and 1.01.76 respectively, while the boys’ 8x25m team also won in 2.22.31.

The on-song Hoskins made it a hat-trick of wins by taking the girls’ 10/u 25m butterfly (19.94).

Pershore finished the job in style with first places for the girls’ 12/u 4x25m medley (1.10.56), the boys’ 12/u medley (1.15.62) and the mixed 8x25m freestyle (2.17.21).

OTHER POSITIONS AND TIMES Second places: James Heeks (boys’ 10/u 50m freestyle, 40.96), girls’ 11/u 4x25m freestyle relay (1.09.92), boys’ 11/u 4x25m freestyle relay (1.12.42), girls’ 10/u 4x25m medley relay (1.30.35), boys’ 10/u 4x25m medley relay (1.27.82), Lauren Annis (girls’ 12/u 50m freestyle, 36.05).

Thirds: Grace Styler (girls’ nine years 25m breaststroke, 30.33), boys’ nine years 4x25m medley relay (1.35.67), boys’ 10/u 4x25m freestyle relay (1.22.54), Lauren Annis (girls’ 11/u 50m butterfly, 45.67), Oliver Smith (boys’ 11/u 50m butterfly, 46.67), Ronan Williams (boys’ 12/u 50m freestyle, 36.46).

Fourths: boys’ 11/u 4x25m medley relay (1.26.00), Robert Thorner (boys’ 10/u 50m breaststroke, 1.00.63), Max Aris (boys’ 11/u 50m backstroke, 47.49), Ronan Williams (boys’ 12/u 50m breaststroke, 50.77), Lily Mullen (girls’ nine years 25m freestyle), Luke Drayton (boys’ nine years 25m backstroke, 27.19).

Fifths: girls’ nine years 4x25 medley relay (1.53.08), Ethan Stanley (boys’ nine years 25m freestyle).

Personal bests: Martha Cross (girls’ 10/u 50m freestyle, 43.66), Andrew Thorner (boys’ nine years 25m breaststroke, 29.15).

Speeding tickets: Hamish Cross (boys’ 12/u 50m backstroke, 40.08), David Annis (boys’ 10/u 50m backstroke, 44.46).