TOP honours went to 15-year-old Ledbury and District Swimming Club team captain Hywel Pothecary and 10-year-old Thomas Stokes, who both won their age group at the Worcester County Championships last weekend.

Both boys were victorious in the 200m breaststroke event, both swimming new personal best times with Thomas setting a new championship record and gaining his Midland District qualifying time.

Hywel also won the 400m Individual Medley event in an improved personal best of 5.13.49, almost ten seconds faster than his winning time from last year but frustratingly 400ths of a second outside the championship record.

More disappointment followed in his 100m freestyle event, despite a confident start, his turns were not up to competition standard making all the difference between a predicted 1st place and 6th. He fared better in the longer 200m event, just missing the bronze medal but awarded the pennant for 4th place.

The boys were part of a Ledbury squad of 19 top swimmers who between them achieved 36 personal best times with 28 placings in the top six.

It proved to be a great weekend for Thomas, who was the silver medallist in the 200m freestyle and was also 2nd in the 50m backstroke and 3rd in the 50m freestyle, all in new personal best times.

Patrick Blake won the bronze medal in the same 200m freestyle event with both boys fast enough to gain their Midland District qualifying times. Patrick also swam new improved times on both his 50m backstroke and freestyle events.

George Bennion utilised great concentration during his eight length breaststroke race, having worked hard to make adjustments to his stroke during training he managed to keep it together and was rewarded with a silver medal and a Midland District time. With Bradley Smith and James Middleton, he also recorded personal bests in the 50m backstroke and freestyle events, and was the runner up in the 200m freestyle with Bradley winning a pennant for 6th place.

Arron Almond was totally focused for his 200m freestyle and determined to put his good training to use. Drawn in a fast heat he worked hard to keep with the leaders all the way and was delighted to knock nine seconds off his time and take 4th place in the 11-year-old age group.

The girls faced very tough competition with more qualifiers than the boys events. Heather Farmer was disappointed not to have swum her fastest on the 200m freestyle although it was a great achievement to win the silver medal. She was determined to make up for it when she swam a fantastic 50m race bringing her time down by almost two seconds to finish in 3rd place. A good swim in the 50m backstroke gave her another pb and another second place.

Annabelle Wilce was pleased with her backstroke when she at last broke the 40 second barrier finishing in 39.91. Along with sister Charlotte and team mates, Charlie Scott Wilson, Lucy Bennion and Chloe Watson, new pbs times were recorded in the 200m freestyle event.

Chloe Watson was seeded sixth on the programme for the 50m freestyle so knew she would need to swim a fast heat to gain entry to the championship final. With a great start and minimum breathing she was delighted to go under 31 seconds for the first time and secure her place.

With barely 15 minutes rest she was lined up for the one of the most nerve-wracking races of her life. Keeping very calm and focused she swam exactly as planned and not only finished third but managed to shave her time down to 30.30. With a new pb in her 100m freestyle also, it was a great shame she just missed out on her district time.

Lucinda Houghton and Lucy Bennion also recorded new improved times in the 100m event. Switching to breaststroke Chloe managed another pb as did Amy Tyler and Charlie Scott Wilson in the 200m distance. Sarah Bethell swam a pb in the 14yrs 100metres backstroke and Laura West was 5th in the 16 year age group.

Coach Viv Jones said: "Ledbury have done better than ever before, it is an achievement just to gain entry times to this championship and a great experience for the swimmers to compete at this level.

"Although essentially swimming for themselves I have been impressed with the support they give each other especially from the older swimmers. We need to keep the pressure on another week ready for the Wyvern League final tomorrow (Saturday) then it will be a well-deserved rest."