ULVERSTON’S young Otters travelled to Carlisle to compete in the Grand Final against the county’s top teams from Carlisle, Copeland, Cockermouth, Kendal and Barrow this weekend.

Opening their score with a brilliant second place in the breaststroke relay, the 11-year-old group consisting of Indya Sharp, Adelaide Dodson, Maisie Allonby, Leonie Milburn and anchored by Shannon Parker set a standard they held throughout the Gala.

They took second place in the medley relay and it was only the greater strength in depth of the Carlisle team that prevented them taking maximum points.

Dazzling individual swims came from Shannon Parker in the sprints and 10-year-old Amelia Mardell also starred with some fine results for her 50m breaststroke and butterfly.

Louis Jones took third in the 50m butterfly. He later collected another third place in a blanket finish at 50m freestyle.

However at the halfway stage Carlisle and Barrow had moved ahead and were battling it out for the lead, leaving Otters leading the rest of the pack with 74 points.

Particularly pleasing were the results of the nine-year-old squads. Mixed events produced impressive performances from Nathan Tizzard, Annabel Crayston, Felicity Boyle, Ethan Alpress, Daniel Machin, Ted Cubiss and Oliver Morrison.

This half saw Indya Sharp have the greatest success in the individual events and Ethan Alpress also gave a fine performance in the 50m backstroke, finishing second.

The team were unable to improve on their third place but the team and coaches were delighted with the efforts.