Fourteen members qualified for the Northumberland and Durham Counties Age Group championships held over two weekends.

Swimmers from more than 30 clubs throughout the North-East took part and the Northallerton representatives performed extremely well, breaking six club records as well as chalking up 14 personal best times and four district qualifying times for the North Eastern Counties championships to be held at Sheffield in May.

The best performance came from Gareth Watson who finished fourth in the 50m breaststroke with a new club record time. He also set a new club record in the 200m breaststroke and records were also broken by Jessica Noone (50m butterfly, 50m backstroke, 100m individual medley) and Emily Shaw (200m breaststroke).

Swimmers producing NE Counties qualifying times were Oliver Wray (50m butterfly), Ralph Stokeld (50m breaststroke), Emily Shaw (200m breaststroke) and Zara Dee Hannay (50m backstroke).

Northallerton also had a record number of representatives at the Cleveland Association Bronze Ability Sprint Gala. The 26 swimmers achieved 30 bronze ability awards as well as 29 personal best times. Jessica Noone and Alex Smith both also managed to achieve the gold award. Alex Smith and Laura Caygill performed particularly well gaining bronze in all four strokes and Stephen Lane improved his best IM time by more than a minute.

Club coach Barbara Blades is delighted with the progress her swimmers are making. She said: "It is great to see so many swimmers wanting to compete and improve their times. I am really looking forward to the NE Counties championships in Sheffield this year."