THERE was drama from start to finish and a host of personal bests from Kendal swimmers in the latest round of their club championship.

The event began with Sophie Gibson edging a closely fought ladies' 200 breaststroke and ended with Jacob Klijn winning the men's 50 freestyle by the closest of margins, and there was plenty of excitement in-between.

Gibson, Megan Jones and Jessie Keech set a relentless pace in that 200 breaststroke with Gibson's late injection of pace earning her victory while Jones just touched Keech into third spot in a close finish.

The men's 200 was equally exciting with James Escolme setting the pace along with Klijn and Alex Tallon.

Escolme pulled clear to seal victory as the other two battled it out for second and third with a final surge from Klijn seeing him take silver with Tallon earning the bronze.

Next came the U10s 25 backstroke which gave the club stars of tomorrow a chance to shine.

The girls' race was dominated by Felicity Pattinson with a commanding win, Lydia Cudby taking silver and Jessica Atkinson bronze, but the boys' event was much closer as Samuel Parry just hit the finish a split second ahead of Jake Smith and Elliot Dart.

The girls' 100 butterfly was dominated by the Roberts sisters, Anna taking the U12 trophy with a display of power and talent followed by Kate Collin winning silver and Elissa Kinley bronze.

Then elder sister Sophie produced a wonderful effort that brought her a hat trick of trophies.

She clocked a club championship record 1:11.35 for a brilliant win in the U14s ahead of Lucy Klijn, whose performance marked a fantastic comeback after recent major surgery in Germany, with Keira Nelson third.

Sophie's swim left her well ahead in both the junior ladies' and the open championships with Bulman and Jones taking silver and bronze respectively.

The men's 100 butterfly saw Austin Woodburn register a well earned victory in the boys' U12 event, while the boys' U14 race brought Escolme his second trophy as he pulled well clear of Mathew Foster and Reece Kinley.

The junior men's race then saw Klijn shine with a brilliant show, Escolme settling for silver and Tallon another bronze.

The gents' competition turned out to be the race of the meeting and brought the Klijn brothers Jacob and Thomas together.

After initially being pushed hard by Escolme, the brothers broke away and in a thrilling finish, Thomas took the trophy by a split second from his brother with Escolme close behind.

A change of stroke brought Anna Roberts her second trophy as she won the girls' U11 50 Freestyle from Lianne Rairata and Elissa Kinley.

The boys' event brought a blanket finish with Jake Smith just touching out Leo Murray by hundredths of a second to collect his first championship trophy and Alfie Marshall snatching bronze.

The ladies' 50 freestyle saw Bulman surge home, pipping Sophie Roberts and Keech, and the men's 50 freestyle proved a dramatic finale to the championships with Thomas Klijn just edging out Adam Stansfield with Escolme third.

Trophies and medals were presented by Regional President Lesley Capstick.

Regional swimming also said goodbye to a mainstay this week with the retirement of Ulverston Amateur Swimming Club coach and former county head coach Paul Elwood after 17 years' service.