WORCESTER Swimming Club hosted their 13th annual open meet.

The popular competition attracted a record number of entries, including plenty from leading Midlands clubs like Boldmere and Halesowen.

Worcester’s swimmers acquitted themselves well, winning 67 medals.

Many were claimed by Jonathan Edwards and Tabitha Monkhouse, who were awarded the top boy and girl trophies respectively.

In the 13 to 14 age group, Edwards won nine medals, three of them gold.

The 50-metre freestyle was arguably his most important victory as he secured first place in the boys’ medal table in what was effectively a swim-off with his main rival.

But Edwards also showed his versatility by winning the 400m individual medley and his potential with a blistering two minutes 24.21 seconds in the 200m backstroke.

Monkhouse racked up 11 medals, also in the 13 to 14 age group.

Eight of them were gold with first places in the 200m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly and the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke.

Monkhouse completed the 200m breaststroke in a stunning 2.45.38, nine seconds clear of her nearest rival and faster than the boys.

Many other Worcester swimmers excelled too, most notably James Marsh, who was rewarded for his hard work in training.

An impressive winner of the 11 to 12 age group 400m individual medley, Marsh also took the 50m backstroke.

It was something of a surprise for a swimmer more renowned for his butterfly and breaststroke, in which he won more medals in the 50m, 100m and 200m events.

Club captains Adam Whitaker and Hayley Weaver were also multiple medallists.

Competing in the 17 and over age group, Whitaker led by example, winning the 400m individual medley and collecting a further six silver and bronze medals.

Weaver, back from university in Birmingham, won four medals, including gold in the 50m and 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly.

In the 15 to 16 age group, Hollie Horton made an excellent return to form, especially in the freestyle events, winning both the 200m and 400m events in personal best times.

In the 13 to 14 age group, Emily Holland put illness behind her to win the 400m individual medley.

Team-mate Cara Lee notched up a fine brace of victories with strong performances in the 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle.

There were also medals for Jack Weston, Chris Edwards, James Allen, Joel Smith, Simon Kitchen, Francesca Daniels, Nixie Turner, Alice O’Toole, Sarah Cowin and Nicole Gasic.

Head coach Mark Stowe said: “Being our own open meet, this has been the number one target since we returned to full training after the summer so I was delighted with the swimmers’ performances.

“Close to 200 personal best times tells its own story!”