SEVERAL of Pershore Swimming Club’s youngsters represented their school in the Midlands ISA Swimming Championships.

Ollie Gill came second in each of his heats, completing one length at Walsall’s 33-metre size pool in the backstroke and freestyle, continuing to improve after joining the swim club a year ago. Although Gill swam personal bests, only the fastest in each event would be asked to represent the Midlands in the National ISA Championships in Coventry’s 50m pool on Saturday.

It was a triumphant story for Bowbrook House School’s national champions from 2009, Harry Sykes, champion last year and Tazmin Pugh, champion the previous two years. Sykes had swum in the Senior Midlands Championships a few weeks earlier and had stormed to a convincing win in the breaststroke in a time of 23.87 seconds.

Even though the freestyle had ended in a fingertip finish, Sykes was given the decision in a great personal best of 19.30. This means Sykes will be representing the Midlands in the both the freestyle and breaststroke events and also the 4x1 200m freestyle relay and 4x1 200m individual medley races.

Pugh continues to reign supreme at the Midlands championships, winning the individual backstroke event comfortably in an all-time best for year six girls in 23.37.

She repeated this in the butterfly, amid stiffer opposition, in a championship record of 21.79. Like Sykes, Pugh will now go forward to represent the Midlands in the National ISA Championships in the backstroke and butterfly events and also the 200m freestyle and individual medley relays. For more information on all club matters, call the club secretary on 07968 429112.