LEDBURY & District ASC travelled to GL1 in Gloucester to take part in the first round of the 2005 PGL League.

Up against strong teams from Gloucester, Cheltenham and Four Shires, it was always going to be a tough round. However, undeterred Ledbury performed well throughout.

After 10 events, Ledbury were two points ahead with wins from Alison Pudge (13/U fly), Eloise Van Vuren (11/U breaststroke PB) and a fantastic win from the 9yrs boys' breaststroke relay team consisting of Ben Butler, Rhys Jones, George Cook, all having their debut team swims, and Billy Wilce.

Cheltenham then started to put Ledbury under pressure and the next victory didn't come until the 12/U girls' medley relay. Solid swims from Katie Batley, Jenny Simpson, Josie Rycroft and Emily Klimek ensured victory and gave the team a boost.

This was followed by superb wins for Chris Harwood and Emma Fitzpatrick in the 11/U freestyle, both in new personal best times.

The 10/U fly was next with William Brown and a determined Amelia Butler both swimming new personal best times and earning victories for the club. Unfortunately William's time was faster than the time allowed at this gala and he was awarded a 'speeding ticket'.

It was then up to the 9yrs boys' and girls' medley relay teams to continue the good form. Sure enough, the boys' team of Michael Adair (backstroke), Billy Wilce (breaststroke), Ben Butler (freestyle), and Rhys Jones (freestyle), swam a solid race to secure victory. Not to be outdone, the girls' team of Gemma Laing (backstroke), Sally Fitzpatrick (breaststroke), Katherine Shaw (freestyle) and Leah Heath (freestyle) remained composed throughout to secure victory in a time over a second quicker than the boys.

After 20 events Ledbury had managed to extend their lead slightly and were leading Cheltenham by three points.

The next block of 10 events proved to be very competitive with the only victories for Ledbury coming from Dan Adair and Alice Quigley in the 10/U freestyle, both in excellent new personal best times. Cheltenham proved very strong in this section of the gala and after 30 events had taken the lead and were four points ahead of Ledbury.

Wins followed for Josie Rycroft (13/U breaststroke) and Katie Batley (12/U freestyle) both in new personal best times. The boys 11/U medley relay followed and the boys, Chris Harwood (backstroke), Jonathon Lea (breaststroke), Chris Leitch (Fly) and William Brown (freestyle) put in a good performance taking first place.

Not to be outdone, the girls' team of Alice Quigley (backstroke), Emma Fitzpatrick (breaststroke), Amelia Butler (fly) and Eloise Van Vuren remained composed throughout and took the win in a time two seconds faster than the boys! Wins followed for Michael Adair (10/U backstroke) and another victory for the 9yrs girls' freestyle relay team of Sally Fitzpatrick, Katherine Shaw, Gemma Laing and Leah Heath.

After 40 events Ledbury remained only four points behind Cheltenham. Sensing that they could still win the gala Ledbury upped their performance and secured victory in seven of the next 10 events. Ruari Smith Cooper and Anna Bird (13/U freestyle), Odge Davey and Josie Rycroft 12/U fly), Eloise Van Vuren (11/U backstroke), all in new personal best times. The 11/U freestyle relay teams of Chris Tedds, Dan Adair, Jonathan Lea, Chris Harwood and Emma Fitzpatrick, Amelia Butler, Alice Quigley and Eloise Van Vuren also secured hard-fought wins. After 50 events Ledbury had regained the lead and were leading Cheltenham by one point.

The final seven events were very close with Ledbury only securing one victory in the 12/U girls' freestyle relay (Josie Rycroft, Emma Fitzpatrick, Katie Batley and Emily Klimek). Although Ledbury secured four second places in the last seven events it wasn't enough and victory went to Cheltenham. Final points wereCheltenham 172, Ledbury 166, Gloucester 112, Four Shires 98.

Other personal best times were Ruari Smith Cooper 13/U fly, Emily Klimek 12/U backstroke, Jonathan Lea 11/U freestyle, Odge Davey 13/U backstroke, Chris Tedds 13/U breaststroke and Odge Davey 12/U freestyle.

Special mention to debut swimmers George Cook, Katherine Shaw, Ben Butler, Rhys Jones and Isabel Massey.

Team manager Jeanette Wilce said: "It was a hard contest but the standard of the Ledbury swimmers was once again extremely high. The club has developed beyond recognition over the past five years under the guidance of chief coach Viv Jones, who has and continues to put in an enormous amount of hard work."