Worcester rounded off the 2022/23 season of League competitions with a wonderful win in the Mercian League Final on Saturday 8th July
After a stunning Round 2 performance, confidence was high – albeit tempered by having to compete in the Final with a much depleted team, 18 of the squad unavailable!
However, the swimmers who made it to Nuneaton really stepped up, to record a sensational first place in a thoroughly riveting gala, with all six teams very closely matched. The final points were Worcester 204, Bilston 181, Leamington 169, Redditch 167, Kingsbury 165 and Boldmere 157
The Mercian League is aimed at swimmers below Regional standard i.e. any swimmers who have qualified for West Midland Championships are ineligible. Nevertheless, the standard was still very high and first places were hard to come by with Worcester only picking up 8 from the 50 races
Star of the show was arguably Mia Gooch who stormed to a brace of 1st places, impressing hugely as she comfortably took the 12-year old 100m Breaststroke and 50m Butterfly
In the same age group, Sam Corby swam a blinder to win the boys’ 100m Backstroke; also teaming up with Khai Yang, Oliver White and swimming up an age group James Walter to take both the Medley and Freestyle relays in fine fashion
In the 14-year old age group, Jacob Cutler produced a very gutsy swim to win his 100m Butterfly, and then he and team mate Holly Hunt did the double, both winning their respective Breaststroke races in nail biting finishes!
There were many other excellent swims though – all of which made a big contribution to the overall team success, with special credit going to:
The fabulous Open age group swimmers – Libby Nawarycz, Lottie Richardson, William Hadley and Chris Joiner – who had to swim a lot of races with so many team mates absent
Zara Ashfield swimming up to cover the Open Free, and gaining an invaluable 4th place
9-year old Louie Ginger rocking up and smashing out two brilliant 25m swims in the 10/u Relays
Charlotte Ciancio fighting hard for the team even though she didn’t feel well
Anya Rawnsley coming in as a Reserve and producing a superb Personal Best Time in the 100m Freestyle
Vital 2nd place finishes from James Ashfield (twice!), Khai Yang, Imogen Ciancio, Evie Rea and Oliver Ginger
Above all though it was a cracking team performance where every swimmer contributed fully – both to the result and also the wonderful team spirit in evidence throughout the evening, the Blue and Green Army every bit as loud as always…Whoosh!
The full team was: Thea Pickstock, Evie Rea, Elisha Mistry, Lucy Piper, Imogen Ciancio, Mia Gooch, Anya Rawnsley, Zara Ashfield, Holly Hunt, Charlotte Ciancio, Sophie Earp, Lottie Richardson, Libby Nawarycz, James Ashfield, James Walter, Logan Nicholls, Louie Ginger, Sam Corby, Khai Yang, Oliver Ginger, Eddie Richardson, Lucas Pedley, Jacob Cutler, William Hadley and Chris Joiner