LEDBURY swimmers made an excellent start to their annual long distance championships with two new junior records in the 400m individual medley event.

Hannah Bloxsome used her best stroke, butterfly, to full advantage over the first four lengths and managed to build up a substantial lead which she maintained with a smooth backstroke swim. As expected, she had to work extremely hard over the next 100m of breaststroke, but stayed focused on her stroke and maximised the turns to keep her ahead for the final freestyle leg. Although showing some fatigue she finished strongly in 6.47.87, a massive improvement of 38 seconds from last year. Josie Rycroft was runner up and Katie Batley won the bronze medal.

In the junior boys, Thomas Stokes swam a brilliant race with sound swims on all four strokes, plenty of determination and good turns led to an extremely fast 6.21.89 a Midland District Qualifying time and over 20 seconds faster than last year, ranking him the 7th fastest in the club. A dramatic 37 second improvement pushed Patrick Blake into 2nd place with George Bennion finishing 3rd.

All three medal winners in the senior boys finished with their County Qualifying times for the championships in March. With some fitness problems, Hywel Pothecary missed out on a new personal best time but nevertheless was impressive leading the race from start to end. Luke Rycroft continued his recent good form finishing with an 18 seconds improved time. A competitive swim from 12-year-old Rhys Davey secured him a new pb and the bronze medal.

Chloe Watson's good butterfly swim put her in the lead which she steadily increased throughout the race finishing with her County Qualifying time and an improvement of 22 seconds. Lucy Bennion won the silver medal and Sarah Bethell won the bronze.

The Most Improved Time was won by Richard Jones, swimming 42 seconds faster than last year.

Continuing their success over the weekend, 12 swimmers competed in the prestigious Hereford Open Meet. Chasing their county times which have to be submitted in January produced some focused races and new pb's for Hannah Bloxsome, Lucy Bennion, Chloe Watson. Charlotte Wilce, Charlie Scott Wilson, Annabelle Wilce, Patrick Blake, George Bennion, Thomas Stokes and Luke Rycroft.

James Middleton and George Bennion also swam at Nuneaton on Saturday in the Midland District Sprint meet.

George swam in the breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle whilst James was one of only five boys, in the 10yrs age group who had qualified on all four strokes. Swimming well throughout the individuals he was selected for a final consisting of a 100m Individual Medley. Much improved at this event he excelled himself to finish with another pb and a bronze medal for being third overall in his age group.