ULVERSTON Swimming Club staged its annual open meet in the local G.L.L. centre.

Fifty swimmers from Kendal competed and 22 of them won medals, while many gained pbs and qualifying times. Ten-year-old Austin Woodburn proved a multiple winner, picking up four golds and a silver.

He got off to a great start with a storming finish in the 100 individual medley. His 50 backstroke brought him another win and then at breaststroke he took comfortable wins in the 50 sprint and 100 events. He won silver in the 50 freestyle sprint.

Mathew Foster was in brilliant form, taking gold in three events. He won the 50 butterfly and at 50 and 100 freestyle he reigned supreme, drawing on all his power and skills, especially in turns and transitions to win in style.

Joseph Bulman won six medals in total. His 50 breaststroke was absolutely superb, setting a devastating pace. He then demonstrated his all-round skills with a comfortable win at 100 butterfly followed by minor place medals for his 50 backstroke and butterfly as well as 100 butterfly and individual medley.

His sister Lucy won a pair of golds following well-judged efforts at 100 freestyle and individual medley. She had to settle for silver at 50 butterfly and freestyle as well as 100 breaststroke.

A well-deserved surprise came the way of 13-year-old Jessie Keech, who for her first time came up with a double, taking gold at both 50 and 100 breaststroke. She went on to snatch bronze in the 100 backstroke.

Isabelle Wall-Budden showed once again her power and technique at freestyle setting the pace and taking it on in both the 50 and 100. She quickly got a window of advantage and any challenges were met by moving up a gear and burning off the opposition to win with a fair degree of ease. Bronze medals for 50 backstroke and 100 individual medley were then added to her score.

Alex Walton, 11, had a brilliant swim in the 100 individual medley, battling it out with club mate Bulman. Matching each other stroke for stroke the race came down to the wire and in the blanket finish Walton took gold by a split second.

He won the 100 breaststroke and then added a silver for 100 freestyle and a bronze for 100 backstroke.

Anna Roberts, 10, placed herself in position for success at 50 breaststroke and saving her exertions for the last length got a well-deserved gold, then adding silver in the 100 butterfly.

Annie Bottomley had similar success, storming well ahead at 50 butterfly for a gold medal, then a brilliant all round swim in 100 individual medley brought her a silver and she made her set complete with a bronze for 100 butterfly. Breaststroke specialist Elissa Kinley took gold in the 100 race. In the 50m sprints she had to settle for bronze with three swimmers all on 50 seconds.

At butterfly, Alex Tallon won gold at 100, silver for his 50 and another silver for his 100 individual medley.