EIGHT records were broken when Ledbury Swimming Club held its sixth club Championship Gala on Sunday.

Many of the younger swimmers entered the under nine's individual medley with Thomas Stokes taking gold for the boys, Patrick Blake silver and Bradley Smith the bronze. Heather Farmer won gold for the girls, Hannah Bloxsome the silver and Jessica Hunt the bronze.

Charlotte Scott-Wilson swam a good race to take gold in the ten year old class, Alison Pudge silver and Annabel Wilce the bronze. Arron Almond took the gold medal for the boys.

11/12 year olds: Boys - Luke Rycroft gold, Mark Hinton silver; Girls - Pippa Collins gold, Rachael Lee silver, Chloe Watson bronze. 13/14 years old: Boys - Hywel Pothecary gold, Joe Platt silver; Girls - Sarah Bethell gold, Katy Rolfe silver. 15 and over: Boys - Jamie Dunn gold, Chris McMahon silver, Ian James bronze; Girls - Laura West gold.

The final heat was exciting with Jamie Dunn breaking his brother's record from 1996 and for the 13/14 year old Hywel Pothecary did a fantastic swim to break a club record that has stood since 1987. The junior cups were awarded to Luke Ryecroft and Chloe Watson and the senior cups to Jamie Dunn and Laura West.

Nearly 30 seven and eight year olds entered the 25 metre breaststroke and each swam very determinedly. Seven year olds Paige Roberts and David Middleton won the golds, both breaking club records from 1997. Silver medals went to Lucy Stokes and Adam Thomas and bronze medals to Annabel Dereham and Joe Bloxham. Eight year olds Josie Ryecroft and Bradley Smith won the golds. Silver medals went to Olivia Hunt and James Middleton and bronze medals to Annabel Crowther and Richard Watkins.

100 metre breaststroke: 12 year old girls - Pippa Collins gold, Lucinda Houghton silver; 13/14 year olds girls - Sarah Bethell gold, Katie Rolfe silver, Rebecca Hardy bronze.

The boys swam together in the 13/14 and 15 and over breaststroke. Hywel Pothecary swam a fantastic race to just pip Jamie Dunn. Hywel gained the gold for the 13/14 year olds and Jamie for 15 and over (including a new club record).

13/14 year old boys: Thomas James silver, Joe Platt bronze. 15 & over boys: Chris McMahon silver, Ian James bronze. 15 & over girls: Laura West gold.

50 metre backstroke: 9 & under - Thomas Stokes and Heather Farmer won golds in new club records. Silver Patrick Blake and Heather Bloxsome and Bronze James Middleton and Paige Roberts. 10 year olds - Annabel Wilce won the gold breaking a club record that has stood since 1994. Arron Almond won for the boys. Silver Alison Pudge and Ruari Smith-Cooper. Bronze Thomas Pinnell and Charlotte Scott Wilson. 11/12 year olds: Luke Ryecroft and Pippa Collins gold, Mark Hinton and Lucinda Houghton silver and Chloe Watson bronze. 13/14 year olds: Hywel Pothecary and Sarah Bethell gold, Chris McMahon and Katie Rolfe silver and Joe Platt bronze. 15 & over: Jamie Dunn and Laura West gold. The overall winner of the 2001 Novice cups were William Spencer and Rachael Lea.