THE final of the 2003 Manchester Programme A swimming competition was held at Radcliffe Pool recently.

Before the start, Radcliffe were presented with the Keith Royle trophy for having finished top of the league. Sam Barrow and Emily Brown collected the trophy from the Manchester president, Mrs J. Cheshire.

In the final, Radcliffe had to settle for second place, but some great effort and fine swimming meant that they were not overawed by the changes to the strong squad from Horwich.

In the individual events there were double wins for Sam Horrocks in the boys' 10-year freestyle and backstroke, Georgina Philips in the girls' 11-year freestyle and butterfly, Sam Barrow in the boys' 13-year freestyle and backstroke, Alice Holden in the girls' 10-year breastroke -- swimming up an age group in the 11-year breaststroke -- and James Gibson in the 12-year butterfly. There were also wins for the 10-year boys' team of Thomas Gibson, Ben Emmett, Sam Horrocks and Thomas Gleaves in the freestyle and medley relay events.

Horwich 166; Radcliffe 149; Marina 101; Stockport 71; Stalybridge 70.

The Radcliffe swimmers also did well in the first of the Central Lancs Warburton Galas, held at Broughton Pool.

Those achieving places in the top three were: James Gibson -- first in 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke; Louis Szymanski -- second in 200m individual medley; Sam Barrow -- second in 50m backstroke; Joanne Long -- first in 50m freestyle; Emma Barrow -- third in 50m butterfly; Aaron Greenhalgh -- first in 50m butterfly.

Although outside the medal places, those with places in the top six were: Sam Barrow -- 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle; Louis Szymanski -- 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle; Lee Szymanski -- 100m backstroke; Matthew Balmer -- 50m butterfly; Ruth Payne -- 100m breaststroke; Joanne Long -- 100m butterfly; Amy Greig -- 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke; Megan Hughes -- 50m breastroke.