LEDBURY and District ASC swim team travelled to Blackpool to compete in the annual Ledbury Challenge trophy gala.

Winning 24 of the 51 events was sufficient to beat Blackpool by 11 points and bring back the shield for the third consecutive year.

Following a long journey it was difficult for the swimmers to be at their best but Charlie Scott Wilson led the way, winning the 12/u breaststroke and freestyle events in new personal best times.

Luke Rycroft was the winner of the 14/u breaststroke and Emma Fitzpatrick and George Bennion won the 10/u age group with a pb for Emma. Also victorious in breaststroke was the girls cannon team with Emma Fitzpatrick and Emily Klimek, Heather Farmer and Charlie Scott Wilson steadily building up a sufficient lead to enable Chloe Watson and Sarah Bethell the opportunity to fend off the much older and quicker Blackpool girls.

Backstrokers Annabelle Wilce, Emily Docherty and Thomas Stokes added winning points and Patty Holloway, Heather Farmer, Lucinda Houghton and Sarah Bethell won the backstroke cannon relay. Sarah Bethell was also the winner of the 14/u freestyle and both Anabel Dereham and James Middleton won the 10/u races.

Butterfly proved to be Ledbury's strength, winning seven of the 10 events. Hannah Bloxsome and Thomas Stokes won the 12/u age group, Katie Batley and James Middleton the 10/u and team captain Laura West the open age group. Hywel Pothecary put tremendous effort into his open age group swim and despite setting himself a new best time was nudged into second place by the senior Blackpool swimmer.

The girls swam strongly to win their cannon, only to lose precious points with a faulty takeover. The boys race was ably started by nine-year-old Joe Bloxsome giving James Middleton a slight lead to build on. Patrick Blake and Arron Almond had to swim their best to give Luke Rycroft and Hywel Pothecary sufficient lead to finish ahead of the fast approaching opposition.

With relay races scoring double points it was vital that the younger swimmers were on form. The nine-year-olds, Lucy Stokes, David Middleton, Anabel Dereham, Joe Bloxsome, Olivia Hunt, George Parsons and Patty Holloway, were successful in both their medley and freestyle events and with good swims from Kate Docherty, Bradley Smith and Ruari Smith Cooper, the 10's and 12's also won both their relays.

After the gala the team had a tour of the town's famous illuminations and the following morning enjoyed a trip to the Pleasure Beach.