A team of junior swimmers, some of them swimming competitively for the first time, swam very well at Denton Pool and despite some close finishes scored the most points.

Results: Hebburn Metro 48 points, Blyth 92, Billingham 137, Peterlee 150, Ashington 170; Richmond 188.

Individual wins were recorded by Rebecca Henderson and Ryan Bishop in the 11 year backstroke, Jacob Attwood in the 11 year butterfly, Nicole Burlinson in the 11 year breaststroke and Catherine Henderson in the 12 year breaststroke.

The team came through strongly in the relay events winning 15 of the relays. All the nine-year-old teams won all their events in their first competition. Girls Lydia Beeken, Danielle Galvin, Emma Morris, Naomi Attwood and Lia Bowyer. Boys Harry Vernon, Leon Matchwick, Daniel Overin and William Henderson.

In the Northumberland and Durham Youth Championships six club swimmers qualified to swim in these championships, winning seven medals. Anthony Burke qualified to swim in four events but due to an injury sustained in the snow was unable to compete.

Joanne Jackson, who trains with Richmond, before school four mornings a week, competed in four events winning all four: 200m Freestyle, 50,100 and 200m Butterfly.

Ryan Livingstone swam well to achieve three silver medals, being narrowly beaten in all three events.

Janine Phillips was placed third in each of her three breaststroke events which was a good result as she is at the bottom of her age group.