WYRE Forest Swimming Club held its fifth annual Primary Schools Gala on Saturday at Stourport Sports Centre with the support of the district’s Schools Sports Partnership.

Schools were invited to enter separate teams for boys and girls from years three and four and five and six and, as space at the pool is limited, the club hosted two consecutive galas on the evening to accommodate everyone who wanted to participate.

The first gala saw teams from Bewdley Primary, Lickhill Primary, St Bartholomew’s CE Primary, St Georges V CE Primary and Stourport Primary.

The second gala featured Burlish Park Primary, Chaddesley Corbett Primary, Foley Park Primary, Holy Trinity International School and St Anne’s CE Primary Many of the 180 youngsters who took part were experiencing competitive swimming for the first time and were all soon swept up with the excitement of the evening which saw some very close races.

The event had a special visitor as WFSC club member Amy Smith, who fresh from selection for the Great Britain 2012 Olympic team, came to cheer on the teams and present medals.

The packed spectator gallery and the swimmers gave her a tremendous reception and it was inspiring to recall that a seven-year-old Smith had received her first swimming lessons from club teachers in that very pool.

Team winners: Girls year four and under: Bewdley Primary and Holy Trinity; Boys year four and under: Lickhill and Holy Trinity; Girls years five and six: Stourport and St Anne’s. Boys years five and six: Bewdley and Holy Trinity.