AT the recent Tulle International Festival in France, the Bury Metro swim squad left teams from five different countries floundering in their waves.

The team, made up from top swimmers from Ramsbottom, Bury and Elton, and Radcliffe, swept to a convincing win over teams from France, Romania, Germany, Portugal and Spain. The team were awarded points for each position and registered 19 age group first place, nine second places, and two third places.

The youngest swimmers on the 28-strong team were in sparkling form, with Tom Massey, Louis Symanski and Megan Ormrod taking first places in front crawl, backstroke and butterfly respectively. 12-year-old Emma McKenna was a double winner, taking both the 50 and 100-metre front crawl events, as was 12-year-old Calum Hall in the 100-metre butterfly and backstroke.

Strong performances and great encouragement for the younger swimmers came from team captains Rick Panter and Joanne Long, with Rick taking first place in the 16 and over backstroke event and, along with Joanne, acquiring the four x 50 mixed freestyle relay to first place. Their example helped to give the whole team a boost and personal best times were set in many events.

Other first place swims came from Vasilos Sarras (50 fly), Laura Spencer and Donna Moffatt (50 breaststroke), Adam Rhoden and Katie Stredder (backstroke), Emily Brown (100 fly), Megan McGadie (100 breaststroke), Helen Foreman (50 fly).

Fourteen-year-old Paul Whelan was up against the Portuguese national champion in the 50 and 100 front crawl events and had to settle for second place after being touched out by finger tips on both events.

Head coach and team leader, Rick Wesolowski said: "This was a real test for our swimmers and they came through with flying colours".

Coach, Mike Massey said: "What a performance, fantastic to see the swimmers from each club supporting each other, they are credit to their clubs, families and themselves".

Assistant coach, Ruth Grady said: "The swimmers worked hard for this result and they really enjoyed the event, it was great fun and we look forward to Spain next year.

RESULTS

Bury, England 15,368 points; Tulle, France 13,923; Bucharest, Romania 13,318; Ereintza, Spain 12,566; Lousada, Portugal 9,296; Schorndorf, Germany 5,189.