LEDBURY swimmers were back in action after the summer break with the fifth club championship gala at Ledbury Pool on Sunday.

Thomas Stokes showed great form and versatility with a hat-trick of new 12 years age group records in three strokes over three distances, the 200m breaststroke, 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly.

Lucy Bennion (15/0), Emma Fitzpatrick (11 yrs) and David Middleton (10 years) were also record breakers in the 200m breaststroke event. 50m butterfly records went to Rhys Davey (13/14) and Patty Holloway (11). Sam Parsons (11) bought the new record tally to nine with a new 25m freestyle record in the novice event.

The longest race, eight lengths of breaststroke, had 64 entrants. All the medallists in the 9/u age group were within the 2005 County entry times. Fastest was Sally Fitzpatrick with a 3.53.77 with runner-up Leah Heath recording 4.00.01. Gemma Laing who was celebrating her ninth birthday won the bronze medal. Rhys Jones was the boys winner, closely followed by Freddie van Vuren and Billy Wilce.

David Middleton was the clear winner of the 10 years section with his new record of 3.15.32. Alice Quigley was the girls winner. In the next age group Emma Fitzpatrick set her new record 3.14.65, a second improvement for her pb list. Thomas Stokes swam a very fast 2.47.17 a huge improved time which was within the 2005 National Entry Standard.

Rhys Davey and Hannah Kirby won the 13/14 age group and Luke Rycroft and Lucy Bennion won the 15/0 age group.

Trophies for the fastest junior swimmer (11/Un) were awarded to George Parsons who swam a personal best time of 3.11.80 and Emma Fitzpatrick. Senior trophies went to Thomas Stokes and Lucy Bennion.

The gala was concluded with the novice races. Sam Parsons and Alice Quigley were both fast winners with times under 16.5 seconds, runners-up were Daniel Adair and Amelia Butler and third places went to Michael Adair and Isabel Massey.

Other results.

25m freestyle. Girls' (7/Un) 1 Penny Green, 2 Bethan Hiley, 3 Sophie Green. Boy's (7/U) 1 William Park, 2 Charlie Docherty, 3 Daniel Clark. Girls' (8) 1 Leah Heath, 2 Laura Quigley, 3 Lizzie Millington. Boy's (8) 1 Michael Adair, 2 William Owen, 3 Peter Crocombe.

100m freestyle. Girls' (9/10) 1 Caitlan Clarke. Boy's (9/10) 1 David Middleton. Girls' (11/12) 1 Eloise van Vuren (PB). Boy's (11/12) Thomas Stokes (PB). Girls' (13/14) 1 Hannah Kirby. Boy's (13/14) 1 Rhys Davey. Girls' (15/0v) 1 Lucy Bennion. Boy's (15/ov) Luke Rycroft.

Butterfly. Girls' (9/Un) 1 Sally Fitzpatrick, 2 Leah Heath, 3 Gemma Laing. Boys (9/Un) 1 Michael Adair, 2 Freddie van Vuren, 3 Billy Wilce. Girls' (10) 1 Isabel Massey, 2 Alice Quigley, 3 Caitlin Clark. Boy's (10) 1 David Middleton, 2 William Broan, 3 Daniel Adair. Girls' (11/12) 1 Patty Holloway, 2 Katie Batley, 3 Josie Rycroft. Boy's (11/12) 1 Thomas Stokes, 2 George Bennion, 3 James Middleton. Girls' (13/14) 1 Hannah Bloxsome, 2 Annabelle Wilce, 3 Hannah Kirby. Boy's (13/14) 1 Rhys Davey, 2 Arron Almond. Girls' (15/Ov) 1 Lucy Bennion, 2 Susan Pudge. Boy's (15/Ov) 1 Luke Rycroft, 2 Thomas James, 3 Mark Hinton.