SWIMMING: WINSFORD and Crewe were jointly awarded the trophy for the top club at the North Midlands Championships held over three days at Biddulph and Macclesfield.

Indeed, Winsford ASC were in front from the opening events until the last session when Crewe clawed back the deficit to share the trophy.

Winsford's lack of swimmers in the younger age groups, especially between nine and 12 proved to be the decisive factor as their older swim-mers swept aside the opposition.

Vice-chairman Brian Davies explained that the club was still suffering from the long shutdown of the Winsford pool two years ago when swimming lessons had to be stopped.

The flow of youngsters into the competitive squads was disrupted and Winsford need to fill the gaps and strengthen the squads, especially with a view to their Speedo League Premier Division standing later this year.

Winsford ASC was recently awarded Competitive Club status by the ASA and is able to offer local swimmers the facilities and coaching that can take them up to international standard.

Davies said: 'We have one of the country's top coaches in Dave Pettengell and local swimmers who are travelling to clubs such as Stockport Metro every day really do have an alternative.'

A total of 44 Winsford swimmers took part in the North Midlands, bringing home a total of 101 individual medals including 50 gold, 28 silver and 23 bronze, setting two National qualifying times, 28 new club-record times and 187 new personal-best times.

Medallists were: Nigel Davies (gold and silver), Rob Gater (6g, 1s, 2b), James Cowburn (2g, 1s, 1b, 2 free-style nqt), Terry Cowburn (1s, 1b), Ashley Walton (1s, 1b), Oliver Paver (s), George White (9g, 1s, 1b), Jack Millington (2s), Alex Hay (1s, 2b), Michael Almond (2g, 2s, 1b); Hannah Allen (4g, 1s, 1b), Sonja Allen (5g, 1b), Emma Almond (1b), Lucie Tetley (4g, 1s, 1b), Katherine Edgar (1g, 2s, 1b), Rosalind Harrison (b), Sarah Marsh (s), Suzanne Harrison (1s, 4b), Lydia Woodward (5g), Joanna Waterman (9g, 3s, 1b) and Jessica Gallimore (1s, 2b).