BROMSGROVE Swimming Club have made a promising start to 2006 by coming second in the opening round of the Worcester Winter League.

The team finished just 25 points behind winners Worcester in a hard fought contest.

Daniel Strange enjoyed a solid debut for the club when he joined Alice Alton, Jack Cracknell, Ellie Williams, Caelyn Williams and Dan Scarr to come second in the under-11s 6x1 medley relay. Bromsgrove were pushing a strong Worcester team all the way and Will Baker kept the momentum going by winning the under-13s 100 metres backstroke and freestyle races.

Dan Scarr won the under-11s 50m freestyle in a time of 31.66 seconds. Bromsgrove were on a roll and wins for Katy Masters and Steve Muddiman won their races in the under-100m butterfly section. Richie Edmunds was also in good form - winning the under-15s 100m backstroke race.

In the open 100m backstroke Simon Smith produced a sudden burst of speed to win the race.

Alice Alton was a double winner, coming first in the under-11s butterfly and backstroke. Philippa Thomas came second in the under-15s 100m. Naomi Barrett performed well in the under-15s 100m backstroke.

A series of second and third places by Bromsgrove swimmers kept them in contention for the top spot. Amy Mansell, Connor Simmons and Kirsty Rostill all produced strong performances in the 100m breaststroke events.

In the latter events Bromsgrove were being caught up with by Haden Hill, but victory for Matt Hooper in the open 100m freestyle kept the team in second overall.

Hooper then completed the night by leading the 6x1 freestyle relay team of Lucie Edmunds, Stuart Corbett, Claire Ashford, Simon Smith and Vicki Standen to victory.