CITY of Chester Swimming Club is facing its biggest season yet as Sarah Eaglesham prepares to try to secure a Commonwealth Games place.

The 16-year-old, who claimed four golds at the recent North West Regional Championships, is in the running for a place representing Scotland as she qualifies through her parents, but her success is inspiring other swimmers at the club to aim high.

City of Chester coach Barry Healey said: “Sarah is having a good season and we are trying to make sure that she peaks at the right time in order to earn a selection for her national team.

“But her success is filtering down to the rest of the team.”

At the Welsh Nationals in Cardiff, three Chester youngsters made their debuts while Will Slater and Dan Hussey have been climbing the Welsh age rankings.

“We have a programme in place where we make sure swimmers work efficiently,” said Healey.

“We also try not to restrict swimmers. “For example, Will Slater also rows.

“Young people need variety, plus his swimming benefits from his rowing.”

The systems Healey, his coaches and parents have put in place have led to growing medal hauls at big galas and he says that, with the funding and facilities the club has, it is an incredible feat.

“Chester was a big club nationally once,” he said. “But that was before the big Metro programmes in Manchester, Stockport, Wigan, etc, were established and funded.

“Now we are a poor relation with nowhere near the capacity, facilities or money we need to compete yet we are competing.

“At the recent North West Regional Championships we placed seventh out of 50 clubs, ahead of many Metro clubs, which is a great achievement.”