PERSHORE’S Will Gearey travelled to Sheffield’s Ponds Forge for the level one Derventio eXcel ninth long-course open meet.

The 12-year-old boosted his hopes of qualifying for the new Summer National Swimming Championships in August.

From 13 events, Gearey swam 12 new long-course personal bests, securing 12 gold medals and the coveted two boy award.

In the 200-metre backstroke, he powered to victory in two minutes 33.50 seconds and then added a second gold in the 50m butterfly in 30.32.

Gearey clocked 1.22.55 in the 100m breaststroke, 2.33.73 in the 200m individual medley and 37.84 in the 50m breaststroke.

He swam a three-second PB of 2.15.43 in the 200m freestyle and rose to number one in the United Kingdom end-of-year rankings.

Gearey finished with a PB in the 100m butterfly of 1.09.92.

The next day, he opened with the 50m backstroke in 33.43 for his second top UK ranking spot.

Gearey swam 1.01.56 in the 100m freestyle and 28.44 in the 50m freestyle for another win.

He completed the 200m breaststroke in 2.57.96 and the 100m backstroke in 1.12.40.

The youngster finished with the 400m freestyle and looked tired but battled for 4.54.10 just outside his previous best.