Evesham Swimming Club enjoyed a successful return to competitive action after almost two years away.

The Abbey Road-based club competed at their first team gala event in 19 months as they travelled to Cheslyn Hay to compete in the first round of the National Arena League on Saturday, October 9.

A team of 22 swimmers competed against four other clubs, with Evesham finishing the day second behind Repton Blue from Derbyshire.

Head coach, Graham Begley, said: "I am extremely proud of every swimmer tonight. We have competed against four very strong clubs and every swimmer has contributed to the team performance with great swims.

“I can see the progress we are making with how we are competing at much higher levels. It was amazing to be back and see the smiles on the faces of our swimmers"

Daisy Gregg, Jack Fallon-Williams, Ed Rice, Szymon Zwierz and Athen Cochrane all recorded first place finishes in their individual events.

In the team events, the 4x50m medley relay and the 4x50m freestyle relay, Bella Williams, Ed Rice, Jack Fallon-Williams, Annabelle Blackbird and Sophie Walters worked together to earn two more first place finishes in the 10 to 11-year age group.

Begley has been head coach at Evesham since January 2018 and admitted that the last 19 months have been difficult.

He said: “We went into isolation in March 2020 during our busiest and most exciting time of team competing, resulting in so many swimmers missing out on competing.

“We were top of the PGL league and then the competition was made null and void.

“The biggest challenge has been keeping swimmers motivated through a lack of team galas and competitions.”

He added: “To keep our swimmers engaged we have entered virtual competitions where our swimmers race in our own pool and we upload times to record new personal bests.

“Our Run Club, organised by volunteers Steve and Jayne Henley, has allowed our members to keep fit outside of the pool when leisure centres were closed and restrictions allowed us to gather outside in groups of six.

“In July we held the first Evesham Biathlon event which was great to get every back competing. Now we have team galas back the future looks a lot brighter.”