WYRE Forest Swimming Club travelled to Wombourne for the first round of this year’s Ross League. For many of the younger swimmers in the club this was their first real venture into competitive swimming.

The Ross Junior League is made up of teams from swimming clubs in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and the West Midlands and the swimmers ages range from 9 to 14.

There are four rounds with the top eight teams going through to the final.

The first round proved to be a nail biting affair that was an exciting, close fought battle right to the end.

WF individual first places went to: Abigail Smith 11/u 25m free & 25m fly; Will Guest 13/14 50m fly and 50m breast; Theo Crowther 9 yrs 25m breast; James Vaux 9 yrs 25m back; Marieke Parker 10/u 25m free; Ella Rowley 11/u 25m back; Mollie Kilgour 12/u 50m free; James Rushton 12/u 50m breast; Phoebe Westwood 12/u 50m breast; Daniel Hardiman 13/14 50m back; Chloe Lawson 13/14 50m breast; Poppy Stant 13/14 50m back; Emily Watkiss 13/14 50m free.

Relay first places were won by the girls 10/u medley team of Lottie Mason, Grace Cox, Maddie Moore, Marieke Parker; the girls 13/14 medley team of Emily Watkiss, Chloe Lawson, Maisie Lane, Poppy Stant and the girls 12/u freestyle team of Mollie Kilgour, Abigail Smith, Phoebe Westwood and Millie McDonald-Booth.

Those receiving individual ‘Speeding tickets’ (awarded for swimming faster than pre-set times for the league) were Maddie Moore and Archie Darby-Duffield Lead development coach, Brian McGuinness, said: "This was an excellent result for the young Foresters and was a clear indication of the progress they have made and are making. "What was most pleasing was seeing these younger swimmers not only trying but accomplishing the complex race skills they have been practising in training. "This was very satisfying and shows the potential that this club has."

Swimmers making their debut were: Lily Colley, Iona Denton, Eleanor Mersh, Bella Costa-Bennett, Grace Cox, Marieke Parker, Millie McDonald-Booth, Phoebe Westwood, William Colville, Theo Crowther, James Vaux, Edward Perkin and Lucas Gardner.

Final result: Northgate 157, Wyre Forest 156, Cheltenham 137 and Haden Hill 116.