Age group 1 swimmers travelled to take part in the prestigious Derby level one meet at Ponds Forge in Sheffield; rubbing shoulders with Team GB and the likes of Liam Tancock, Joe Roebuck and Joanne Jackson, and they didn’t disappoint.

10 year old Aleah Ross continued her impressive form; swimming well in all of her six events. An outstanding swim in the 50m freestyle gained her a silver medal in a time of 32.48 second (equivalent to a 13 year old Yorkshire qualifying time). This was backed up by a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle, gaining a 2 second pb in a time of 1:11.89. She rounded off the weekend with a North East Region time and 5th place in the 400m Freestyle in 5:51.11.

12 year old Tom King also had a busy schedule having qualified for five events. In the 200m freestyle he gained an impressive pb of 3 seconds in a time of 2:21.21 and then swam 1:05.39 for 100m freestyle achieved yet another pb. Taking part in 200m and 100m butterfly and 200m IM rounded off a memorable weekend.

12 year old Bailey Hairsine competed in four events and also performed well against the high calibre field. A 5th place finish in the 200m butterfly in a time of 2:37.32 and a 4 second pb in the 200m IM showed he was determined to continue his impressive form this season. Solid performances in the 200 and 400m freestyle completed his weekend amongst the elite.

With a number of swimmers competing at the Derby meet the remainder of age group 1 where swimming at the Harrogate open meet.

10 year old Lewis Collins scooped an impressive seven medals from seven races and posted four 11 year old Yorkshire qualifying times to cap off an outstanding weekend. He swam to gold in the 400m freestyle in 5:42.56, achieving a 5 second pb on the way. It was gold again in the 50m and 200m backstroke and 200m freestyle. It didn’t stop there; swimming a 3 second pb and gaining silver for the 50m butterfly in a time of 43.23. A further two silvers in the 200m IM and 200m breaststroke rounded off a superb weekend for Collins.

Hannah Willingham continued her run of good form and despite very recently turning thirteen, managed to achieve Yorkshire times for 200 and 400m freestyle and posted impressive 5 and 9 second pb’s respectively. Gold was well deserved after swimming a massive 9 second pb on her 200m breaststroke. This was backed up by a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle and solid performance in the 100m breaststroke, 200m IM and 100m butterfly.

Another swimmer who had just turned thirteen also stepped up to the plate, Danny Stone walked away with silver in the 100 and 200m butterfly, bronze in the 200m IM and a 13 year old Yorkshire time of 2:24.00 for the 200m freestyle. He capped a long weekend off with silver in the last race of the meet, the 100m backstroke.

The impressive performances didn’t stop there. 12 year old Abigail Malton returned 4 pb’s from 7 races and bagged gold in the 400m freestyle and silvers in the 50m backstroke and 200m IM. Darcy Hambly swam to gold in the 200m freestyle in 2:34.76 and gained a bronze medal in the 200m IM and 100m freestyle. 11 year old Luke Taylor achieved 5 pb, from 5 races and two bronze medals for the 200m freestyle and 50m butterfly. Mathew Longhorn walked away with a 50m backstroke gold medal and 100m bronze. 13 year old Sophie Holdsworth managed a gold and silver. 11 year old Jack Woodcock came away with 5 pb’s from 6 races, took silver for the 400m freestyle in a time of 5:33.29, and a 4 second pb gained him a bronze and a 12 year old Yorkshire time for the 200m freestyle. Melissa Machin took silver in the 200m freestyle achieving a 6 second pb. Solid performances and plenty of pb’s from Kennedy Akrill, Megan Batterbee, Laura Bailes and Emma Newmarsh rounded off a successful weekend for the squad.

Two aged group two swimmers joined the older Age 1 at Harrogate. 9 year old Lily Hawkard swam to gold in the 50m butterfly, bronze in the 200m butterfly and received a 'Speeding ticket' for the 50m freestyle, coming home in a time of 36.57. The weekend was rounded off with a 6th place in the 200m backstroke.

9 year old Ruby Willingham also made the journey to Harrogate and didn’t disappoint; achieving top eight finishes in five of her six events. Best of these was her swimming to gold in the 200m breaststroke, and 4th places’ in the 200m backstroke and 200m freestyle.