A DOZEN competitors from Tynedale Swimming Club have picked up medals against county standard opposition.

Four of the club’s 10-14 year-olds qualified for the Age Group Championships at Sunderland Aquatic Centre, which took place over two consecutive weekends.

Christian Ryan qualified for six events at Sunderland. He reached five finals and won three gold medals, dominating in the 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke events. He also swam a personal best in the 200m freestyle.

Harry Courtney qualified for eight events and reached eight finals. He went on to win gold in the 1500m freestyle, and six silvers in the 400m, 200m, 100m freestyle, 200 individual medley, and the 200m and 100m backstroke.

Harry swam seven personal best times over the two weekends, and has been invited to join Christian on the Northumberland and Durham Performance programme for swimmers ranked in the top 16 in the UK in their age group.

Megan Coldwell qualified for six events at Sunderland and reached three finals, in the 50m and 100m freestyle, and 50m backstroke.

She achieved personal best times in all three and finished sixth in her 50m freestyle final, swimming a sub-30s long course for the first time.

Jamie Lonergan was competing in the combined 10 and 11-year-old category, and swam impressively during his first performance at the county championships in a 50m pool.

The senior (15 years and over) long distance events of 800m and 1500m freestyle were also held at Sunderland, with Sean Wyle (22) and Rebecca Wren (15) both finishing in the top 10.

Hexham’s other senior qualifiers had to travel to Sheffield for the county championships.

Lisa Thornley qualified for five events in the 18 years and over category, reaching two personal bests and winning a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke.

Daniel Jones (15) swam a tremendous personal best in his 50m freestyle. Charlie Hammersley qualified for four events in his first senior County Championships, and smashed his previous 50m freestyle time.

Cameron Lackey competed in three events in the 18 and over category, swimming two PBs in his 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle.

Jaime Dykins clocked a PB in his 50m freestyle. Kate Salthouse qualified for three events, just missing out on personal best times. Mark Seymour, head coach at Tynedale Swimming Club said: “To have 12 of our swimmers qualifying and competing at the county championships is a great success for a small club such as ours.

“All the swimmers have had to reach tough qualifying times just to get there, never mind to reach the final and in some cases medal.

“For a number of them, it was their first experience of a county championships in a 50m pool and they all swam really well.”