PERSEVERANCE has paid off for members of Northallerton Amateur Swimming Club as they bring home a trophy after 40 years of trying.

The club, who had not claimed a single trophy in their four-decade history, have pulled off a double victory in both the Moors and North Yorkshire leagues and were also nominated as the most improved club in the Cleveland area.

The team, which trains at Hambleton Leisure Centre, ended the season on a high note at Bedale Leisure Centre against Ryedale, Derwent and Thirsk White Horse Swim Team in the North Yorkshire League individual championships.

The Northallerton club again came out top, bringing home the Hambleton Leisure Cannon Trophy for the first time.

The event saw 21 swimmers break their personal best times, six club records smashed and three members achieve times which will put them into the County Youth Sprints next year.

With the Cleveland Championships taking place next week, club coach Barbara Blades is optimistic.

She said: "It's fantastic to see the team finally reaping some rewards - after so much hard work. So many of our swimmers - both young and old - are swimming better than they have ever done before, and the trophy cabinet proves it.

"The nomination in the Cleveland League shows that even a small club can make a splash in a big sea and, with firm foundations already in place for next season, we hope to make it just as good, or even better, than this one."