THE first of six Ledbury and District ASC annual club championships was held last week.

With only a fortnight of preparation since the start of term, over 100 members competed including many of the new 2004 intake of five and six-year-olds.

The first event was the 100m backstroke for swimmers aged 11 upwards. In the 12 years age group, Annabelle Wilce swam a new personal best time to break the record set in 1996, by one and a half seconds, showing a five second improvement from her 11 years record set last March. Rhys Davey broke the record in the same age group and Thomas Stokes set a new record for the 11 year age group. Susan Pudge and Luke Rycroft were the 13/14 winners and Helen Evans and Hywel Pothecary were the 15/over winners.

The 25m backstroke race for the 7/under and 8-year-old swimmers had 33 entrants including 11 new members. Encouraged by the enthusiastic support of the older swimmers and parents, all managed to overcome their nerves and finish their race successfully.

Leah Heath and William Wilce were the winners of the 7/u with Laura Quigley and Alexander Dereham the runners-up. Bronze medals were awarded to Sally Fitzpatrick and Michael Adair. Caitlin Clark swam superbly in the 8 years age group to win the gold medal in a new record time of 20.40 seconds. Alice Quigley was second and Amelia Butler, third. William Brown swam a good length to become the was the 8 years boys champion in 21.86 seconds, with Daniel Adair, second and Harrison Wilce, third.

The 200m freestyle was a popular event with 67 entrants ranging from age eight, resulting in 55 new personal best times and some very exciting races.

The younger swimmers did exceptionally well to pace themselves over the 8 lengths and 11 out of the 18, 9/under age group swam within the county qualifying time. Lucy Stokes and George Parsons were the winners with Lucy setting a new record. Close behind to win the silver medals were Caitlin Clark and David Middleton with Alice Parsons and Joseph Bloxsome taking third place.

In the 10yrs age group all three medallists made their county time with winner James Middleton, setting a new club record. Runner-up was George Bennion and Bradley Smith was third.

Josie Rycroft was the girls' winner, Olivia Hunt second and Kate Docherty, third. In the 11/12 age group Hannah Bloxsome showed great determination to finish with a 15-second pb and take the touch only 300ths of a second ahead of Heather Farmer, with Alison Pudge in third place. Rhys Davey was the boys' winner in the same age group in a new record time and within the county standard whilst runner up Thomas Stokes set a new record in the 11yrs within the Midland District qualifying time. Arron Almond was third. Chloe Watson won the 13/14 age group with a new record, Lucy Bennion won the silver medal and Susan Pudge the bronze. The boys' winner was Luke Rycroft, Mark Hinton second and Richard Jones third. Hywel Pothecary and Sarah Bethell were the 15/over winners.

A total of 21 swimmers will now be able to represent Ledbury in this event at Worcester County Championships in March.

The strongest entry (81) came in the 50m breaststroke. Ex-LADASC captain and national qualifier Helen Evans, now the LADASC Masters Coach, was a popular winner of the senior ladies' championship in a new record time of 38.12. Hywel Pothecary was the mens' champion (36.25). Rachael Lea fought off tough opposition from Lucy Bennion (2nd) and Chloe Watson (3rd) to win the 13/14 age group in a new record time of 39.81. Luke Rycroft was the 13/14 boys' winner with Mark Hinton, second and Richard Jones, third. Annabelle Wilce won the 11/12 girls' with Hannah Kirby the silver medallist and Alison Pudge winning the bronze. Rhys Davey made this a hat trick of gold medals, silver for Arron Almond and bronze for Thomas Stokes.

In the 10 years competition George Bennion had a tremendously fast start which enabled him to hold the lead throughout the two lengths, snatching the touch from James Middleton and setting a new record of 43.76, this replaces one of the longest standing records, set in 1990. Bradley Smith won the bronze medal. Josie Rycroft was the girls 10yrs winner with Emma Fitzpatrick a mere 700ths of a second behind and Emily Klimek third.

Patty Holloway was absolutely focused on the winning place in the 9/u age group, challenged all the way by Lucy Stokes (2nd) and Rose Parsons (3rd) she finished strongly with a new record time.

In the boys' event George Parsons took the gold, again only 700ths of a second ahead of the silver medallist, Charlie Green and Joe Bloxsome won the bronze. In the final event, the 25m novice race, both winners, Emily Klimek and Iain Docherty finished in 17.25 seconds. Roseanne Docherty and Liam Almond won the silver medals and Lucy Stokes and Charlie Green finished third.

Mr Terry Smith Cooper, the gala sponsor from Brewer Science Ltd, presented the medals and trophies

Mr Smith Cooper said: "It gives me great pleasure to be able to support all these young people and the committed volunteers who make such an event possible. I have been amazed at how well the swimmers perform, especially at such a young age, and wish LADASC continued success."