LEYLAND now boasts five national standard swimmers following the Northern Counties ASA Age Group Championship.

With Natalie Murray securing her second national time in the 200 backstroke heats she now joins John Halliwell, Matthew Greenbank, Ryan Bennett and Lisa Topping in her place among the national elite.

They each achieved personal best times over the weekend half of which, incredibly, were national qualifying times.

Seven Leyland swimmers took part in the event at Manchester Aquatics Centre and won 11 medals in all.

Natalie Murray achieved a personal best in her 400 freestyle and went one better in the 800 freestyle by hitting her year's target by qualifying for the national championships by a brilliant four seconds.

Top performer was national champion Ryan Bennett with seven wins all well within national times in the 100, 200 and 400 freestyle, 200 individual medley and his favourites 100 and 200 butterfly.

In the 200 freestyle he broke the junior British record which is a fabulous achievement for the Leyland and Bolton Metro star.

Matthew Greenbank achieved four national times in seven of his races.

John Halliwell finished eighth in both the 100 freestyle and 200 individual medley but just missed the final in the 200 freestyle slashing his personal best time in the heats. He left his best for his 100 & 200 breastroke by making the podium twice for third place bronze medals in both distances.

Lisa Topping was unlucky to miss out on her national time by a fraction of a second in the 100 freestyle finishing in seventh place.

She competed in the 200 individual medley and finished in 31st place.

The best was left to her last event just missing out on a medal with strong swims in the 100 breastroke heats and final gaining fourth place and recording a personal best time on each occasion.