SIXTEEN records were broken during Ledbury & District ASC 3rd Club Championship gala.

The 200m event was butterfly, the most challenging for all the swimmers, but undaunted there were 40 entrants between ages seven and 16. Reflecting the general improvement of the club, this was twice as many as last year and new records were set in every age group in both the girls and boys.

Fastest overall was 16 year old Jamie Dunn, 2.35.54 (senior championship winner) with Hywel Pothecary (14yrs), chasing hard finishing in 2.39.77, just over 20 seconds faster than his record set last year! Laura West was disappointed to have failed to break the three minute mark by 400ths of a second, but pleased with her new record and a PB by eight seconds, winning both her age group (15/O) and the senior championship. Sarah Bethell set the 13/14 record at 3.20.62 and Lucy Bennion won the 11/12 age group in 3.32.16.

Luke Rycroft was the boys junior champion, reducing the record to 3.28.51 another 20 second improvement, as was Arron Almond's time, 3.39.39 in the 10yrs. Hannah Bloxsome was the junior championship and 10yrs winner improving her PB set at the county championship in March by 15 seconds, making an annual improvement of 33 seconds. Both the youngest (9/u) winners Thomas Stokes and Josie Ryecroft showed tremendous determination, keeping their stroke fluent over the full eight lengths and were worthy winners of both the trophies and records.

In many cases the medals were closely contested by the runners up, Chris McMahon, Joe Platt, Mark Hinton, Ruari Smith Cooper, Bradley Smith, Lucinda Houghton, Annabelle Wilce, Kate Docherty, and the bronze medallists, George Bennion, Charlotte Wilce, Amy Tyler, Alison Pudge and Paige Roberts who all swam brilliantly well with much improved PB's.

The event attracting the biggest entry of 74, was the 100m individual medley. An exciting race between Hywel Pothecary and Jamie Dunn. Jamie took the lead on the butterfly and backstroke then Hywel pulled it back with a fast breaststroke length to make the final turn together, forcing Jamie to summon enough energy to sprint the freestyle and take the touch, enabling both boys to set new records in their respective age groups.

Laura West set a new record in the 15/O with Sarah Bethell taking a second off her existing record from last year in the 11/12s. Luke Rycroft and Thomas Stokes bought the record tally to six for this event. Other winners were, Paige Roberts, Alison Pudge, Arron Almond and Rachael Lea.

The younger boys and girls (8/U) swam a one length freestyle race, with the overall winner, George Bennion presented with the trophy and the gold medal whilst Joe Bloxsome won the gold in the 7/U with David Middleton just nudged into second place and George Parsons taking the bronze. Silver medal in the 8 years went to Liam Almond.

The girls race was divided by 100th of a second, Amy Jones winning the gold and Emma Fitzpatrick the silver with Daisy Powles the bronze.

The younger age group winner was Paige Roberts, silver to Annabel Dereham and bronze, Lucy Stokes.

The remaining event was the 50m handicap race, which was great fun for both swimmers and spectators alike. Winners were Victoria Watkins and Iain Campbell.

Chairman of LADASC, Roger Jones said: "I am sure all present couldn't fail to be impressed by the effort and quality of the swimming, encompassing all the age groups. On behalf of the committee and swimmers I thank all the volunteer helpers and our gala sponsor, David Lowe Music."

Other medal winners in ascending age order were;

100m IM silver - George Bennion, Josie Rycroft, Annabelle Wilce, William Spencer, Lucinda Houghton,Joe Platt, Katie Rolfe, Chris McMahon.

100m IM bronze - James Middleton, Kate Docherty, Heather Farmer, Mark Hinton, Lucy Bennion, Rebecca Hardy, Dan Kaye.

Handicap race silver - Emily Docherty, Chris Leitch

Handicap race bronze - Jenna Clark and Iain Docherty

Speed Awards, 200 fly - Arron Almond, Hannah Bloxsome, Annabelle Wilce & Luke Ryecroft.