TALENTED swimmer Thomas Young was weighed down with gold medals after a marvellous display at the Disability Sport England National Junior Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

Thomas, 13, from Newbiggin, near Kirkby Lonsdale, stepped up to receive nine individual golds and two relay golds after he had set eight personal best times.

On the way to his medal haul the Queen Elizabeth School pupil broke seven national junior championship records over both the 50m and 100m at freestyle and backstroke, the 50m fly, and the 100 and 200 individual medley.

He also knocked a massive 11 seconds off the 100m backstroke record.

It earned Thomas, who swims competitively for Carnforth Otters ASC and the North West Swim Squad based at Manchester Aquatics, the Nationwide Junior Sports Award Bursary for the best U14 boy at the competition.

Pictured with Thomas is Joe Barton (right), aged 11, another Carnforth Otter and NW squad member who lives in Bolton-le-Sands. It was Joe's first major competition and he qualified to swim in six events, collecting a silver and four bronzes and achieving six personal best times in the process.

(Contributed picture)

n IN THE same championships Sam Kaye, of Kendal, continued to enhance his career with another outstanding display at this year's DSE National Junior Champion-ships, at Ponds Ford Pool, Sheffield.

Despite having been reclassified, the Troutbeck Bridge ASC member still came away with nine gold and two silver medals, plus nine personal best times from the 12 events he took part in during the two-day meet.

Sam's outstanding performance came in the 200m individual medley where he accelerated into the lead from the start and pulled well clear to win and take five seconds off his previous best mark.

Following this he had a gruelling day, competing in nine further events against top opposition. Nevertheless he stuck to his task with determination and took well-deserved golds for 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 100m individual medley and 50m backstroke.

He also picked up silvers in 50m and 100m breaststroke and completed the day with a fifth place in the mixed freestyle relay.

His second day in the pool was an easier session with only four events and Sam collected gold medals in every event.

His first came from the 100m backstroke where he looked comfortable throughout and did just enough to win. In the 100m butterfly Sam displayed lots of skill and aggression and this paid off as he not only took the gold, but set one of his best pbs of the tournament.

Another powerful burst in the 50m freestyle brought him victory and his eighth individual gold while his contribution in the open 4 x 50m freestyle relay produced another gold to round off an unforgettable two days of competition.

n Troutbeck annual 400m freestyle championships.

Ladies: 1 Hannah Noble, 5:57.86; 2 Kadie Callingham 6:14.36; 3 Vicki Noble, 6:23.44.

Men: 1 Tim Fay, 5:13.44; 2 Paul Langhorn,5:13.75; 3 Joe Booth 5:31.20.