FIFTEEN records and 35 County qualifying times were achieved in the sixth and final Ledbury & District Swimming Club Championship gala sponsored by Spec Savers.

This brings the total of new club records set this year to an amazing 75.

Top junior Thomas Stokes hit great form and demonstrated his versatility with new records and personal best times in all three of his events, 100m breaststroke, 50m backstroke and 200m Individual Medley.

The IM consisting of two lengths of each stroke is a tough race but was ably tackled by 51 swimmers aged eight upwards.

Thirteen-year-old Chloe Watson showed great maturity in staying focused throughout her race when she had to go it alone being over half a length ahead in her heat to take a second off the record set in 1991. Initially a breaststroker Chloe has worked hard on all the strokes making her an ideal medley specialist, a point well illustrated by also winning the backstroke and breaststroke events.

Club captain Hywel Pothecary once again proved to be an excellent role model to the younger swimmers with wins in all three of his events setting new records in both the backstroke and I.M.

Eleven-year-old Heather Farmer showed great fortitude in her IM, to keep with the race she was forced to work hard on her weakest stroke, the butterfly but then managed to relax into the backstroke and control her pace for the remainder of the race to break her age group record, later making it a double with the 50m backstroke.

In the IM 10 years age group both George Bennion and Josie Rycroft were rewarded for their very impressive stamina with their names going into the records.

Eight-year-old Caitlin Clark smashed the 9/u record by five seconds with a disciplined swim worthy of an older competitor, putting her at number 26 in the rankings with a new pb some 30 seconds within the Worcester County Championships qualifying time although very frustratingly, Caitlin will still be too young to enter in March 2004.

Runner up Lucy Stokes and bronze winner Alice Parsons along with Patty Holloway (4th) and Rose Parsons (5th) also made their county time.

One of the most exciting races of the gala was in the 11/12 age group between Annabelle Wilce and Charlie Scott Wilson with both girls giving it their all and the lead changing from one to the other right up to the eighth length when it came down to a gruelling sprint finish with Annabelle touching a mere 3/10th of a second ahead.

The battle continued in the backstroke, Annabelle winning in a new record time but Charlie turning the tables in the breaststroke. An even closer race came in the 9/u boys with Joe Bloxsome and David Middleton swimming extremely well, Joe favouring his fly and freestyle and David being faster on backstroke and breaststroke again resulting in a sprint to touch when even the finish judges were split with their decision. Both boys were awarded the same time, well within the county standard (as were Charlie Green, 3rd and Chris Leitch, 4th), the referee's decision awarded the gold medal to David which he shortly followed with another in the 50m backstroke event.

Other winners in the 200 IM were Laura West and Luke Rycroft. With renewed fitness Luke had a good gala and a hat-trick of gold medals with wins in the breaststroke and backstroke.

Patty Holloway was the 9/u winner of the 50m backstroke in a new record time as was James Middleton in the 10 years boys. Also in the backstroke Sarah Bethell and Laura West made an exciting race with Sarah reaching out to take the touch and the gold medal for 15/over age group.

David Middleton enjoyed a new pb and his third gold medal in the 1 length breaststroke race for eight-year-olds, when he broke one of the oldest records which was set by Sam Scholefield 14 years ago!

Caitlin Clark won the girls event, Fred van Vuren and Sally Fitzpatrick were the 7 years winners. Chris Leitch continues to improve and he won the boys Novice race whilst Eloise van Vuren was the girls winner. The trophies for the fastest swimmers in this race throughout the year went to Anna Bird and George Cusworth.

Being the final championship gala some special annual trophies were awarded. The Turner Cups are awarded by the committee in recognition of commitment and contribution to the club.

The winners were Charlotte Wilce and Kevin Bloxsome. The Viv Jones Cup for improvement throughout the year was awarded to Alice Quigley. The Wyvern League team captains for next year were announced as Rachael Lea and Mark Hinton.

Trophies were presented by Mrs Elaine Pudge representing the sponsors, Spec Savers.