KENDAL’S swimming aces have been praised for their performances during the Ulverston Swimming Club’s two-day gala.

Among their competition were clubs both inside and outside Cumbria.

The talents and skills of both the elders and the juniors were on full display, especially the 9, 10 and 11-year-olds who were singled out for praise, ending up with a whole host of medals.

The nine-year-olds were in good form ending with a total of eight medals between them, three of which were winners.

Finlay Fitzgerald got off to a super start and cruised to a great victory.

Ava Dixon took part in nine events ranging from 50m to 200m winning one Gold in a storming finish, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze medal.

Indie Brookes took Gold at 50 Breaststroke using her elegant stroke pattern to perfection and settling for silver at 100m and Bronze at 100 Individual Medley. The next group proved just as brilliant with another 16 medals coming their way. Two of the stars of the future, Jessica Atkinson and Elliot Dart emerged with a pair of gold medals each and some fantastic performances behind them.

In the 100 Freestyle Atkinson had to call on every ounce of energy and skill, setting the pace and holding off challengers. Into the pressure zone she found another injection of pace and took the win by a fraction.

Her 100 Backstroke saw a battle develop with club mate Sasha Whitehead and neither gave an inch. It was a swim that brought Atkinson to the front for her 2nd Gold in an exciting finish.

Max Whitehead added to his sister’s success with a Gold for 100 Breaststroke and silver for his 200. Once again Dart proved his great ability for distance swims sweeping to Gold with remarkable performances in both 200m Breaststroke and Freestyle.

Maisey Wilson then took it on in the 200 Breaststroke, quickly got into her rhythm and surging forward had a comfortable win for her efforts.

This group were on fire as Dart took three Silvers and two Bronze, backed up by Whitehead with two Silvers and three Bronze Atkinson was also to add a Silver to her collection.

Moving on, medals were still coming Kendal’s way with a supreme effort from Jack Carradice in the 400 Freestyle.

Staying calm and setting the pace he kept up the pressure and cruised to a well-earned victory.

He also won a Bronze for his 200 Freestyle and then a whole crop of minor places went to Hannah Carradice, Annie Bottomley, Kara Van Der Merve, Adam Wojtacki and George Kinnear Austin Woodburn and Emma Duxbury.

The Seniors were all classed together as 14 year and over so that medals in this group were hard to come by.

James Escolme however was in his usual brilliant form taking Top place in all his entries.

Evan Dart also had a load of spectacular results as had Adam Stansfield and Owain Heathcote Jones for the boys, whilst the girls did their bit with superb efforts coming from Molly Moran Kayleigh Craggs, Eve Murray, Ellie Bottomley, Isabelle Wall Budden, Charlotte Stainer and Ruby Duxbury making it a highly successful meet for the Club.