Kendal Swimming Club staged their Open Meet at the local GLL centre which saw 250 swimmers from 11 Northern clubs take part.

The event was sponsored by a large number of local businesses it turned out to be a huge success attracting Clubs from around the region.

It proved to be a golden opportunity for local swimmers to show off their skills in their pool and how it paid off for them as they finished the day with a grand total of 86 medals, 31 of which went to Kendal’s swimmers.

11 of those were particularly outstanding, winning a total of 29 golds between them. James Escolme, now in top form led the Club’s contingent winning all 7 of his swims with dazzling performances.One of his finest efforts had to be the 50m Butterfly where he got in the mix with club mates Adam Stansfield and Mathew foster.

Off the blocks in a flying start and out of transition all three stormed through the first length setting a devasting pace and matching each other stroke for stroke. Out of their turns they upped the pace and called on their reserves to forge into the pressure zone. In a lung bursting blanket finish they hit the pads with Escombe in Gold, Stansfield in Silver and Foster in Bronze.

Escolme went on to give an awesome master class of all round swimming in both 100 and 200m Individual Medley taking both golds with a fair degree of ease. Stansfield kept up the momentum with his 100m Backstroke by setting himself targets over the four lengths and off the start he put himself on the front and showing great technique and talent he forged ahead in a bid for success.

Into the last length he turned on the screws and came through for a well deserved win. Jake Smith also had an unforgettable day winning a total of 5 Gold medals. Along with club mates Elliot Dart and George Kinnear they too provide an exciting display challenging each other in the 200m Individual Medley. They refused to panic and whilst gaps began to appear they all stuck to their task and refused to give an inch.

Though Smith had a comfortable win, he then went on to four resounding victories at Breaststroke and Freestyle. Indie Brookes was another multiple medal winner who was rewarded with seven medals for her efforts. Her finest result was set in h 50 Butterfly sprint wher dhe found herself giving her all against Barrow’s Pacie Locke.

Locked together right to the finish Brookes got the narrowest on wins.

Her second Gold came from the 100 Breaststroke where again she came up against club mate Ava Dixon. Again both girls gave their best and in another exciting finish it was Brookes who emerged as winner.

Dixon went on to lift five medals, including a super gold effort in the 50 Breaststroke. Another fantastic race developed in this event where again Kendal had a 1,2,3.Kate Collin forged ahead and held off strong challenges from Lara Smith ad Kayleigh Craggs.

Kara Van Der Merve and Emma Duxbury scored hat tricks by storming to three Gold medal wins each plus minor awards. Duxbury at her best in the 100 Butterfly showed controlled aggression leading fellow competitors Kate Collin and Charlotte Stainer to a super victory.

Both Molly Moran and Chloe Westmorland did the double winning two Golds each and Alex Wood performed brilliantly to win Gold at 100m Breaststroke making the meet a worthwhile effort.