ANYONE watching the winning team in action at a schools' swimming gala could have been left with the feeling that they were seeing double.

St Bede's Primary School, Darlington, had two sets of identical twins in their girls team, which swept the board at Darlington Primary Schools Athletic Association's Junior Swimming Gala (smaller schools).

The twins were Siobhan and Sarah McDonogh, and Clare and Jane Charman, all aged 11. The four girls started nursery at the same time and are even in the same class.

Headteacher Clare Taylor said: "They are so athletic, both sets of girls, and they have really excelled in the swimming event.

"The whole team has done exceptionally well, and their success has capped off a brilliant year for us at St Bede's."

The school won the girls', boys' and overall awards at the event on Thursday night at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington.

The larger schools' event takes place next Thursday from 6pm to 8pm at the same venue.

The youngsters who made up their schools' teams at Thursday night's event were:

Cockerton CE Primary: Jenny Carbert, Charlotte Dowson, Michael Haddick, Sarah Carter, Heather Martin, Jamie Rutherford, Laurence Williams, Lisa Sprentall, Abbey Chapman, Molly Irving, Dominic Williams, Daniel Ibbotson, Liam Allen, Jake Forth.

Gurney Pease: Deanna Stockdale, Kayleigh Bradshaw, Joanne Cooper, Sarah Jeff, Samantha Richmond, Lyndsey Wilson, Amy Smith, Luke Ward, Simon Robinson, Luke Jackson, Jack Hobbs, Thomas Rayner, James Rayner, Joe Clare, Dale Mulholland.

High Coniscliffe CE Primary: Emma Forster, Rebecca Urwin, Joshua Hardy, Sophie Edmondson, Hannah Flanagan, Lee Mullis, Mark Tweddle, Daniel Wilson, Helen Sams, Nicola Grant, Kelly Forster, Melissa Cradock, Tim Archer, Adam Keeligan, Daniel Budge, Zack Wilde.

Holy Family RC Primary: Terry McElvanna, Lauren Hall, Stacey Gardner, Rachael Peeke, Antony Bearpark, Amy Reynolds, Anthony Swainston, Scott Hastie, Rebecca Noble, Samantha Grant, James Chapman, Liam Temple, Liam Sanderson, Sarah McDermott, Rachel Kelly, James Gardiazabal, Kirsty Smith.

Hurworth Primary: Kerri Hayman, Daniel Sutcliffe, Peter Tunstall, Matthew Hudspith, Dean Nimmo, Christopher Barron, Chloe Sanderson, Rohanna Aston, Claire Graham, Megan Hall, Jessica Curtis, Gemma Jackson, Amy Fossheim, Michael Murray, Caroline Baker.

Middleton St George Primary: Matthew Smith, Paul Hunt, Heather Clark, Laurel Barr, Rebecca Wearmouth, Robbie Gardner, Joe Saunders, Keith Rees, Paul Dees, Sally Featherstone, Laura Bennett, Vicky Moffatt, Jordan Atkinson, Kathryn Parker, Rachel Benson, Joanna Dinsdale.

Mount Pleasant Primary School: Kayleigh Edge; Carmelle Harris; Emily Silcock; Ayeshia Daly; Kirsty Briggs; Jordan Edmonson; Beth Dutch; Sam Wootten; Daniel Bradley; Barry Jonaf; Andrew Brigham; David James; Ryan Richmond; Christopher Bradley.

Polam Hall Primary School: Polly Enevolson; Victoria Kelly; Katy van der Dries; Melanie Sommers; Jane Williamson; Jacqui Phillips; Tiffany Stainthorpe; Rebecca Harrison.

Red Hall Primary School: Brett Barraclough; Daniel Weir; Jade Levy; Martin Swannell; Michael Gallagher; Ben Hutton; Narelle French; Abigail Peyton; Vicky Cottrell; Victoria Wilson; Laura Stoddart.

St Bede's Primary School: Bethany Heard; Thomas Stokell; Emma Clifford; Dexter Bogle; Jonathan Stokell; Clare Charman; Jane Charman; Tara Lynham; Siobhan McDonogh; Sarah McDonogh; Nicholas Petch; Wayne Kelly; Jack Ridley; Matthew Shaw.

Sadberge: Richard Berriman, Matthew Evans, Matthew Phillips, Rachel Bird, Rebecca Swindells, Robyn Bell, Elizabeth Muller.

St Augustine's: Frances Nicholson, Kate Barker, Beth Connor, Christine McEvoy, Daniel Fox, John McDonnell, Megan Bainbridge, Aimee Wheldon, Claire Richardson, Francesca Chapman, Joe Clamp, James Stokell, Philip Smith, Thomas Sinclair, William Conway, Thomas Hodgson, Rosie Webber.

St John's: Sean Smart, Luke Stone, Antony Johnstone, Martin Wilson, Jackson Furnival, Darren Williams, Daniel Williams, Ashley Davies, Ashleigh Bourne, Natalie Hepper, Jessica Burgess, Joanne Wray, Amy Holdcroft, Sabrina Bright.

St Teresa's: Alison Braithwaite, Matthew Smith, Steven Freeman, Ben Griffin, Karl Gilmour, Hannah Millar, Katie Walton, Thomas Mason, Andrew Gilroy, Lee Sampson, Emma Roberts, Jayne Robinson, Eleanor Freer, Alys Hardy, Elizabeth Maguire.

l The Northern Echo has made every effort to include every name as accurately as possible.