ROSEMARY Swallow was the star turn at Kendal Amateur Swimming Club's championships at the town's leisure centre.

In the gruelling 200m butterfly, Megan Jones set the pace ahead of Swallow, Sophie Roberts and Lucie Bulman over the first 50.

But Swallow then moved ahead and her power and strength kept up the relentless pace, pulling clear over the last 100 to clinch a comfortable victory.

The men's race was equally convincing with Elliot Woodburn dominating the pace and surging ahead of the Klijn brothers, Jacob and Thomas, to take the win in 2:26.56.

The programme then turned to a series of 100m backstroke events, opening with the under 12s.

Kate Collin took it on for the girls though Annie Bottomley and Anna Roberts provided strong opposition, challenging for the honours right to the finish.

Out of the final turn, they matched each other stroke for stroke, but it was Collin who emerged as victor.

The boys' event quickly opened up for Austin Woodburn who pulled clear of Benjamin Rowley and Samuel Crosher to cruise to a comfortable victory.

Moving up to the under 14s, some new faces emerge with Keira Nelson displaying exceptional skill and technique with her smooth and elegant stroke pattern.

She calmly held off a number of strong challenges from Isabelle Wall-Budden, Elise Tallon and Sophie Roberts before digging into her reserves in the final length and increasing the pace to take the title ahead of Wall-Budden and Tallon in a close finish.

In the boys' event, James Escolme stepped up to the mark and had too much skill for his opponents, charging into an early lead he never looked likely to lose, with Alex Walton taking silver and Mathew Gibson bronze.

The club’s top swimmers then got their chance to shine for the junior and senior titles and once again Swallow and Gibson demonstrated how much progress they have made this year.

Also in the mix were Jones, Lucie Bulman and Bethan Rowley who all made spirited challenges, but Swallow held her nerve, moved up a gear and forged ahead to add two further trophies to her collection with Gibson taking silver and Jones bronze.

Both men’s events saw Elliot Woodburn reign supreme with masterly diplays leaving Jacob Klijn and Escolme to collect minor place medals in the junior men’s with Thomas and Jacob Klijn take silver and bronze in the senior event.

Sprinting ability was drawn out in the next round of 50m breaststroke races and the girls under 11s produced a classic with Anna Roberts just edging out Elissa Kinley and Rebecca Fisher.

The boys' race provided more excitement with Jarno Stander emerging as the winner over Leo Murray and Maxmillian Whitehead.

The ladies' event had power, skill and technique with Jones dominating the first length followed by Swallow, Gibson and Susanna Corrie before a supreme effort by Gibson saw her snatch a brilliant win.

The men's event saw Woodburn make a clean sweep of the trophies with Escolme lifting silver and Oliver Woodburn making it a night to remember for the family with a bronze medal.