THERE was a fine performance by a squad of Ulverston Otters swimmers at the Cumbria ASAs winter meet in Carlisle.

The most notable success again went to 10-year-old Reuben Eley who was outstanding in his age group events.

Over the two days he swam in 10 events and secured a medal in nine of them, giving a superb display over all four strokes and distances ranging from sprints to individual medleys.

His outstanding ability at individual medleys brought him three of his gold medals and the 100m event in particular proved to be one of the most exciting of the meet.

He came up against club mate Marley Griffiths and Penrith’s Logan Ivison and a tremendous battle developed with all three matching each other stroke for stroke throughout.

Not even the breaststroke leg could part them as they hit the pads in a blanket finish Eley just touched out his rivals.

The 400 freestyle saw him take a fairly comfortable win and the 200 lndividual medley turned out to be a walk over for him.

His 100 freestyle brought another gold but again he had to pull out all the stops to hold off the challenges of Griffiths who pushed hard all the way.

Eley went on to collect a silver and four bronze medals for his other superb efforts.

And despite seeing gold elude him in these events, Griffiths continued to perform in his other events and had more success with a bronze in the 100 breaststroke.

And in the 100 backstroke, Griffiths came into his own, getting a powerful start and finding a steady rhythm before taking the gold in 1:28,52.

The 13 years boys 50 freestyle sprint brought Ethan Alpress his first success where he clashed with Kendal’s James Escolme.

In a class field, they forged ahead then injected more pace to triumph over rivals with Alpress snatching gold in 27.51.

The duo met again in the 100 freestyle and again produced a momentous battle, hitting the finish together with Alpress taking his second gold, smashing the minute barrier with a time of 59.87. Alpress then took on the 100 breaststroke and far outmatched the opposition at this stroke.

With a superb start, he set the pace and dominated the race, forging ahead and cruising to a comfortable victory to complete a hat trick of golds.

The club’s other gold medallist was Adam Jones who took on the gruelling 200 butterfly and powered his way to a fine win.

Supporting these successes minor place medals went to Rebecca Duckworth, Olivia Penellum, Fergus Bell, Annabel Crayston, Jay Mulama, Percy Wignall, Anna Morrison and Evie McMullen to make a pleasing set of results for the Otters.