LEDBURY Swimming Club's Fusion Squad made their presence felt at the second block of the Worcester County Championships held in Wolverhampton on Saturday and Sunday.

Finishing the weekend with 88 awards for finishing in the top six the squad were impressive and unfazed by the more experienced swimmers from much bigger clubs.

It was smiles all round as Gemma Laing, Sally Fitzpatrick and Leah Heath all collected gold medals in the 9-years age group. The girls made an impressive trio when twice they won the top three places. In the 50m freestyle Gemma was first, Leah second and Sally third and in the 200m IM Sally was first, Leah second and Gemma third. Gemma was also the gold medal winner in the 200m backstroke with Leah second and Sally 5th.

The boys also competing for the first time in the 9-years age group swam well with Michael Adair winning silver medals in 50m freestyle and the 200m IM, Jake Kirby won the silver in the 200m backstroke and was 6th in the 50m freestyle and Freddie van Vuren was awarded pennants for 4th place in the 200m IM and the 200m backstroke.

Thomas Stokes was on target for his national qualifying times and with some strong support from his team mates, he won the gold medal with a superb 200m IM swim some five seconds within the qualifying standard and also sealed his entry to the 400m freestyle with a new best time. He also passed a huge swimming milestone in breaking the one minute mark for the 100m freestyle clocking in at 59.70.

LADASC showed their strength in the both the 50m and 100m breaststroke events, with three swimmers, Leah Heath (9), Lucy Stokes (11) and Tom Stokes (13) setting new county records. James Middleton was a double winner in the 12 years age group whilst his younger brother David won the 11 years 50m race with George Parsons a close second. Tables were turned over the longer race with George collecting the gold medal and David the silver. Arron Almond, George Bennion Rose Parsons and Sally Fitzpatrick were also silver medallists and Emma Fitzpatrick won a bronze medal.

Caitlin Clark had a great weekend winning the 10-years 200m backstroke with a new county record, the 100m and 400m freestyle and showing a much improved Individual Medley swim to win her 4th gold medal and more importantly join Patty Holloway, Lucy Stokes, Tom Stokes, George Parsons and David Middleton in gaining her West Mids District time for the championships at Coventry in June.

The 200m butterfly race was as tough as expected but the Ledbury squad worked hard, Lucy Stokes had her best swim of the weekend, even surprising herself with a 20 second pb within her district qualifying time. Hannah Bloxsome (3rd), Patty Holloway (5th) and Caitlin Clark (2nd) all swam well and finished with new best times.

Not to be outshone the four Ledbury boys all finished with awards, George Bennion was 4th and Rhys Davey, George Parsons and Thomas Stokes all won the silver medals in best times with another district time for Thomas.

Eloise van Vuren was winner of both the 50m and 100m freestyle events in the 12-years age group, won through sheer determination and total focus on her race skills, all the coaching team and the swimmers shared her delight in the achievement of her first ever district time.

Head Coach Viv Jones said: "This has been a very intense competition and I am both relieved and elated that following months of preparation the entire squad have done LADASC, their parents and themselves proud. Not only for some fantastic swimming, the 33 swimmers covered 166 swims and only 24 were not personal best times, but they were commended for their exemplary behaviour throughout two very long days.

"I hope that they will benefit from a surge in confidence having been so successful to enable them to perform even better at the next block held at Worcester in a fortnight."