KENDAL swimmers enjoyed a great deal of success in this year's first block of Cumbria Age Group Competitions held in the Workington pool before lockdown.

Once again it was 15 year old Elliot Woodburn who set the standard with a total of eight wins from the eight events that he entered with most of them taking him forward into the County Championship finals.

His opening event, the 50 Freestyle proved hugely successful for Kendal as it resulted in a win for Woodburn and a runners up award for club mate Adam Stansfield.

Woodburn went on to record further age group wins in the 100 and 200 Breaststroke, 100 and 400 Individual Medley, 100 Freestyle, the 50 and 100 Backstroke.

Not quite as dominant but nevertheless hugely successful was the performance of 14 year old James Escolme who took on a massive 10 events and won a ‘top three’ award in every one.

Opening with the 100m event the race quickly developed into a tremendous battle with Ulverston’s Ethan Alpress matching Escolme stroke for stroke.

Escolme held a slight lead at the 50 mark but then Alpress came back to challenge and neck and neck they drove for the finish.

Hitting the pads together it was Escolme who took the win by a fraction of a second.

Such was his skill that in all his other events he collected second or third awards with some fantastic swims.

Not to be out of the picture the Roberts sisters Anna and Sophie made it a brilliant family weekend with a grand total of 12 age group awards between them.

Sophie took first place in her age group in the 200 Breaststroke, just touching out Copeland's Poppy Oliver in a really close finish.

Two other Kendal girls Ellie Bottomley and Elise Tallon swam brilliantly to take third and fourth places.

Mathew Gibson had a brilliant win in the 200 Breaststroke forging ahead right from the start and setting a devastating pace.

Appearing at his first age group competition 10 year old Jake Smith looked a great prospect for the future.