WORCESTER Swimming Club competitors put in terrific displays at the Midland Age Group Championships in Coventry.

The 13-year old girls shone brightly, collecting bronze medals in the 100 metre and 200m breaststroke.

Tabitha Monkhouse, competing in her first Midland final, was third in the 200m event with a personal best of two minutes 51.19 seconds.

It was a stunning 2.5 seconds quicker than her heat time and rewarded her hard work over the last few years.

Team-mate Sarah Cowin was seventh in the same final but shone brighter in the 100m, gaining a bronze medal.

After a season disrupted by injury, she swam 1.19.87 with Monkhouse an impressive fourth.

Cowin’s time was so close to a national qualifier and was her fourth medal at the championships in consecutive years. The duo also impressed in the relays, together with Cara Lee and Lydia Tainty.

They finished fourth in the 4x100m medley relay behind Nova Centurion from Nottinghamshire, Derventio Excel and City of Birmingham.

Lee recovered from illness to lead off with a personal best 1.14.49 on the backstroke leg.

Cowin recorded 1.19.35 in the breaststroke with Monkhouse producing a superb 1.13.50 in the butterfly.

Having won a time trial to be selected, Tainty also eclipsed her personal best to record 1.08.60 on the anchor freestyle leg.

Worcester’s Jack Weston produced strong displays in the 11 and under freestyle and backstroke events.

In the 100m front crawl, a personal best of 1.10.30 placed Weston 12th, just 0.72 seconds off a place in the final.

Debutants Chloe Mabbett and Severin Naraine swam well in their first Midland championships.

Mabbett acquitted herself well in the 10 and under 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley.

Naraine produced a storming 1.10.52 to finish ninth in the 100m backstroke.

Head coach Mark Stowe said: “While it was great to see Sarah and Tabitha win their individual medals, it was the performance of the relay team that impressed me most.

“Talented and hard working, the four girls were all evidently very determined and should be extremely proud of what they achieved.

“Up against squads that draw their swimmers from several different clubs, that result was extremely impressive.