WORCESTER Swimming Club will compete against the elite of British swimming for the first time in their history after they qualified for the national finals.
Securing runners-up spot in the West Midlands Premier Division of the National Arena League has earned the swimmers the chance to take their place in Cardiff in April.
Competing at Perdiswell Leisure Centre on Saturday, Worcester finished on 215 points, just two points behind overall winners City of Derby.
Going into the final ranked third behind City of Derby and Leicester Sharks, Worcester were aiming to go one better than their third-placed finish last year, when they missed out on the National Final by a single point.
Olivia Fletcher got the team off to a strong start by finishing second in the 4×50 metres open individual medley, before winning the 100m freestyle in her own under-15 age group and clinching second place in the 15/u breaststroke.
Matt Richards won the 15/u and open 100m butterfly before securing the 15/u 100m breaststroke, whilst Will Gearey was first in the 100m freestyle.
Richards also combined with Aaron Cook, Louis Doyle and Alex Farmer to take both medley and freestyle relays in dominant fashion.
In the 13/u age group, Daniel Day won the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle, while George Glover secured a personal best by finishing second in the 100m breaststroke.
Day, Glover, Adam Rutter, Eddie Cox and Brodie Willetts then secured second in the 4x50m freestyle.
In the 11/u, David Annis showed his incredible potential with a brace of victories in the 50m butterfly and backstroke.
There were also second-place finishes for Maisie Lyons in the 11/u 50m breaststroke, Becky Yates in the 13/u 100m backstroke, Megan Annis in the 15/u 100m backstroke, Lucy Clayton in the open 100m breaststroke and Tabby Monkhouse in the open 100m butterfly and freestyle.
Opponents City of Coventry, Boldmere and Leamington Spa soon fell behind leaving a three-horse race between Worcester, Leicester and Derby.
A fourth place finish and personal best from Jenny Gearey in the open 100m backstroke and a second place finish for Sam Hall in the open 100m breaststroke made sure Worcester would clinch second place ahead of Leicester.
Despite Derby winning the overall event, Worcester signed off in style by winning both the boys’ and girls’ open 6x50m freestyle relays.
The national finals take place in Cardiff on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22.
