SWIMMING: YOUNGSTERS from the City of Chester Swimming Club made a splash in the Northern Counties District Age Group Championships at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

The club clinched first place in the medal league beating much larger rivals like Liverpool and Stockport Metro.

Chester's medal haul included 19 gold, five silver and six bronze, with many of the swimmers achieving national qualifying times.

In the boys 12 age group, Tom Allen won nine gold medals and a silver and came first in the British Age Group Category Awards (Bagcat).

Lucy Worrall, 13, also won nine gold medals, a silver and was first overall in the girls 13 age group Bagcat Category Awards.

The girls relay team finished second and third in the freestyle and medley, qualifying them for the National Championships in Sheffield next month.

In the girls 10 age group, Lizzie Little, Rebecca Davies and Emily Kelly all achieved personal best times.

In the girls 11 age group Alice Howarth swam in six events. In the boys 10 age group George Watts reached the finals of four events and in the boys 11 age group Jonathan Armstrong took the bronze in the 100m breaststroke and came fourth in the 200m breaststroke.

Leading the way for the girls in the 12 year age group was Sarah Eaglesham who made the finals of seven events taking the silver in the 200m backstroke and a bronze in the 100m backstroke. Holly McCann and Siobhan Barnard, both 12, performed well in their events. Tommy Hall, also 12, secured 1st place in the 200m backstroke and took silver in the 1500m freestyle and a bronze for the 400m earning him 2nd place overall in the Bagcat Awards. Josh Nock also 12 clocked up personal best times in his events.

In the girls 13 age group Amy Jones swam well in the 200m backstroke while Hannah Phillips achieved bronze in the 200m breaststroke which gained her a National Qualifying Time.

Liam Allen in the boys 14 year age group was fifth in the 200m butterfly final, sixth in the 400m freestyle and seventh in the 1500m freestyle. Jon Winters, 14, swam well while Matt Humphreys won silver in the 200m breaststroke. Matt also swam in the final of the 200m butterfly clinching fourth.