ULVERSTON Otters' Nicola Capstick won silver in the 50m backstroke race at A.S.A’s North West Regional Winter Championships at Liverpool Aquatics Centre.

Looking for a good result in her heat to qualify for the final, county champion Capstick attacked from the start and over the first length was shoulder to shoulder with Athena Clayson (City of Liverpool).

Out of their turn and transition Clayson got a slight window of advantage for the win leaving Capstick second fastest qualifier.

The final proved just as exciting as the heats with Capstick, Clayson and Emma Jones (City of Salford) battling it out for honours.

Again Capstick exploded out of her start and stroke for stroke piled on the pressure. In a storming blanket finish she was just touched out of the win but came away with a well earned Silver medal.

The 100 backstroke saw her again qualify for the final - but she just missed out on a bronze with fourth place.

Elsewhere Amy Richardson had mixed fortunes. Qualifying for four finals, but just missing out on the medals was an achievement in itself and her finest result came from her effort at 100 Butterfly.

She got a great start off the block and quickly found her rhythm. Despite the relentless pace she stayed composed and produced an outstanding swim to take fourth place on a close finish.

She then produced another outstanding effort in the 100 Freestyle finishing in fifth place with a time just outside the one minute barrier. The sprints saw her reach the finals of both 50 Butterfly and 50 Backstroke. Again she got in the mix amongst the leading group - finishing fifth at Butterfly and sixth at Backstroke.

Tom Robinson, another multi qualifier and a Butterfly specialist, was successful in the heats to qualify in the 50, 100 and 200 finals of this stroke. His best result came from the 100m final, where off the block he put himself in a position to challenge for honours. With a lot of pressure on him he kept himself in the mix with some robust challenges and in a powerful burst for the finish he found himself just outside the medal positions in a highly credible fifth.

The finals of the 50 and 200 brought him well earned eighth places where he showed great skill and technique in high class fields.

An indication of his all round skill was shown by completing nine swims from six events throughout the weekend.

Niall Cush qualified for 50 and 100 Breaststroke also put in two fine swims to collect personal bests.