Lancashire County Age Group
and Youth Championships
Preston Swimming Club brought home a bumper medal haul from the Lancashire County Age Group and Youth Championships.
In a magnificent performance, the 37-strong Preston contingent secured a total of 103 medals – 40 of them gold.
Star performances came from Shauntelle and Cameron Austin, who came first in the overall points classification in the 11 and 13 year age group, and Dominic Walker who came second in the 10 year age group.
The event at Manchester Aquatic Centre brought together the best swimmers from across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
Preston head coach Dave Fairhurst said: “There was a high standard of competition so picking up medals and 31 national qualifying times was a satisfying outcome.
Everyone did well which was pleasing as we enter a busy part of the season.”
In the youngest age group, nine-year-old Holly Mawdsley came home with a silver in the 200m breaststroke in her first Championships.
Brandon Kinder, 10, struck gold in the 50m breaststroke as well as taking silver in the 200m event. Bradley Wallbank came third in the 400m freestyle.
In the 11 year girls events, Shauntelle Austin landed a massive six gold medals – in the 50m and 100m butterfly, 50m and 200m backstroke, the 500m freestyle as well as the 200m IM, on top of a further three silvers and two bronze, recording seven national qualifying times. Alishia Finch won a silver and three bronzes.
Lee Reeder and Harry Murphy, both 11, won silver and bronze respectively.
In the 12 year old age group, Preston had three medallists.
Katie Mawdsley took gold in the 800m freestyle as well as taking a further two silver medals with all her swims being in times qualifying for the national finals,
Abbie Kitcher got a silver in the 800m freestyle and Abby Huartson took bronze in the 100m breaststroke.
Cameron Austin was the star performer in the 13 year age group.
On his way to coming first overall, Austin took six gold medals in the 100m and 200m butterfly, 50m and 200m backstroke and the 200m and 400m IM, together with a further three silver and two bronze medals.
He also recorded nine national qualifying times.
Georgia Barton took gold in the 200m freestyle, with three silvers and a bronze, plus five
national qualifying times despite missing the first weekend of events with a back injury.
Florie McLeish took a bronze in the 200m butterfly.
Jessica Chadwick, 14, powered home to gold in the 200m breaststroke and 200m IM, as well as taking a further two silvers and one bronze to book her place to the national finals in three events.
Breaststroker Oliver Walker glided to gold in the 50m event and silver in the 100m and 200m.
Beth Shaw got a medal of each colour with a gold in the 50m backstroke, silver in the 100m backstroke and third in the 50m freestyle. Jack Holden came away with two bronzes.
The 16-year-olds swam junior and senior events.
Justin Austin won 13 golds, three silvers and three bronzes, along with pocketing four national qualifying times. He performed particularly well in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly, and 50m and 200m backstroke.
Boys’ captain Dean Heaps won gold in the 100m breaststroke and took a further three silvers and a bronze. Mark Tootill took a silver and bronze, and Hayley Smith earned four bronzes.
Straight from success at the British Championships, girls’ captain Stephanie Slater, 18, was only able to compete in the 50m breaststroke, but provided a masterclass to win gold.
James Radcliffe, 19, also limited his events but took silver in the 200m butterfly.
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