Burnley Bobcats competed at the ASA North West Region Age Group Championships which were held over two weekends at Manchester Aquatics Centre.

A total of 17 Bobcats competed against the best young swimmers across the region and finished in an impressive 10th place.

Katie Rennolds, 14, added the 200m freestyle event to the 400m, 800m and Open Water swims she has already achieved at National level, while Elliot Norman, 12, swam two excellent breaststroke races – the 100m and 200m events, which qualified him for the ASA British Nationals to be held at Ponds Forge in Sheffield in late July this year.

Joshua Lambert, 14, won silver medals in the final of the 100m and 200m butterfly events and reached the final of the 200m IM, 400m IM and the 400m freestyle. Katie Rennolds won gold in the 200m freestyle, silver in the 400m freestyle and qualified for the finals of the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle events. And Elliot Norman won a bronze medal in the final of the 100m breaststroke and swam in the 200m breaststroke and 100m freestyle finals while Jamie Sharpley won silver in the final of the 200m backstroke event.

Lucy Cole and Ella Sheridan reached the final of the 200m freestyle, and Colette Meade the final of the 100m freestyle.

William Beaven and Dean Moorhouse both swam in the 100m freestyle final and Dean also reached the final of the 200m freestyle, while Robert Bryce swam in the 100m and 200m backstroke finals, and 100m butterfly final.

The Bobcats boys and girls squads competed in the 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay events – producing excellent times qualifying them to swim at nationals in five of the relay events. The Boys ‘A’ team consisted qualified at Nationals for the two freestyle relays and the medley relay. The Boys ‘B’ medley team, finished in 15th position which puts them in a good position for future years as they are only aged 12/13 years, swimming in a 14 year old event. The girls freestyle team qualified at nationals in the 4x100m and 4 x200m freestyle relays while the girls medley team narrowly missed out on a place at Nationals, finishing in 11th place.

The Bobcats have had an extremely successful season so far with swimmers William Beaven, 14, Robert Bryce, 12, William Murray, 15, Elliot Norman, 12, Harry Pilkington, 12, Grace Pickles, 14, Katie Rennolds, 14, Jamie Sharpley, 13, Ella Sheridan, 14 and 15-year-old Katie Rilett-Young, an S6 swimmer, all achieving Individual NQT in one or more events.