THE City of Hereford Swimming Club came away with a huge medal haul from the Worcestershire County Swimming Championships.

This year City of Hereford saw 48 members qualify to enter into events at the 2025 County Championships that were held in Wolverhampton for the long-distance events (1,500 metres and 800 metres free) and Sandwell Aquatic Centre for the remaining events of the program.

Over three weekends in January and early February, 39 swimmers entered the 2025 County Championships, representing City of Hereford Swimming Club in a total of 189 events.

Of these swims, 41 per cent were recorded as overall personal best times compared to long course and short converted PBs. Many more swims would have qualified as long course PBs.

Twenty swimmers accumulated 62 appearances in Finals for the 50 metres and 100 metres events, just over half of the County squad.

A further 51 Medals were won by 14 different swimmers across all events – Tom Hamer (11 years), Bryn Pugh (12), Morgan Feirn (13), Tom Rowntree (14), Joe Hamer (14), Agatha Surowaniec (14), Ella Kindred (14), Isabella Bishop-Miller (16), Elin Winstanley (16), Oscar Evans (16), Harley Sockett (17+), Morgan Pugh (17+), Abigail Field (17+) and Patrick Meggitt (17+).

The final medal count produced 17 gold, 19 silver and 15 bronze.

County Champions for their age group were achieved by Thomas Hawkyard (16 years 800 Freestyle), Ella Kindred (14 years 100 Backstroke, 50 and 100 Freestyle), Tom Rowntree (14 years 100 Back, 50 and 100 Freestyle), Tom Hamer (11 years 50 and 100 Backstroke), Bryn Pugh (12 years 50 and 100 Butterfly), Agatha Surowaniec (14 years 200 Breaststroke), Elin Winstanley (16 years 50 Fly, 50 and 100 Breaststroke), Morgan Feirn also competed in the Para Swimming section and was awarded gold in the 50 and 100 Freestyle.

In addition to 17 County Champions, Ella Kindred was awarded second in the County in the Junior Female section (15 and under) for the 50 and 100 Backstroke and 3rd in the 50 and 100 Freestyle.

Elin Winstanley also achieved second overall Female in the Senior age group (all 16 and above swimmers) in the 50m Butterfly and third overall in the 200 Individual Medley.

Abigail Field took second as the overall Senior Female in the 1500m Freestyle and Patrick Meggitt took the third overall Senior Open/Male in the 1,500 metres and second overall Senior Open/Male in the 800m Freestyle.

As a first County Championships for Head Coach Graham Begley he said: “I was proud to see that the success of our swimmers was not just achieved in the pool; the swimmers’ attitude, approach and desire to learn from their swims was a consistent success out of the pool.

“Every member who represented the club gained valuable skills and knowledge from competing.

“It certainly provided valuable Long Course experience in a 50-metre pool and I was extremely impressed at the professional approach of all swimmers in their conduct across long days at the championships.”