North Lancs Bagcats Championships 2008

Preston Swimming Club took the top honours in the North Lancashire Age Group and Youth Championships.

Staged over two weekends at the Palatine pool in Blackpool, Preston fielded 57 swimmers who between them returned with 135 medals, including 46 first places. Head coach Dave Fairhurst said: “I am absolutely delighted with all the swimmers who took part. “While I am obviously pleased with the number of victories, I am just as pleased that of the total 430 swims we had, 323 resulted in personal bests. “This is testament to the hard work these youngsters put into training.”

The final statistics also provided 147 qualifying times for the North West Regional Championships, and two for the National Championships.

The nine-year-old boys’ age group saw Lee Reeder come second overall with five individual golds, while Andrew Davison and Toby Seers came an overall fourth and sixth respectively.

The girls’ 10 year age group was blown apart by Shauntelle Austin, who landed eight first places to take overall top position. Eleanor Laurence and Molly McManamon enjoyed top-six places, while Alishia Finch took an individual first in the 100m backstroke. In the same boys age group, Harry Murphy was second overall.

Top-six positions were also achieved by 11-year-old girls Katie Mawdsley, who was fourth overall, and Abbie Kitcher (fifth).

Cameron Austin, 12, was in dominant form in his age group to come first overall with seven individual gold. He also achieved national qualifying times in the 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley. Jack Smith was fourth overall.

Georgia Barton was first overall in the 12 years girls section, with team-mate Florie McLeish taking five individual golds to come fourth overall.

Another first was achieved by Joanne Cutler in the 13-year-old event, grabbing four individual golds along the way. Charlotte Sinclair came sixth. With four individual golds, Luke Pool came third overall in the boys event, with Jack Holden following in fourth.

Bethany Shaw, 14, was first in the 200m butterfly and came fourth overall. Lois Vail took two first places, while Eilidh McLeish was fifth overall. In the boys events, Mitiku Turnbull was fourth.

Preston took first and second in the boys’ open category, with Justin Austin pipping Dean Heaps to take top place as he recorded four individual golds. John Rainford came sixth.

Lauren McGinty won the gruelling 1500m freestyle event on the way to coming third overall in the girls’ open, with Hayley Smith finishing fourth.

Myles Kitcher

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