PIONEER 79 Swimming Club have stayed in the top 16 clubs in the North West after a dramatic finale to the North West Arena League.

The Hyndburn-based club set off for Stockport Centr-al Baths knowing they had to finish outside of the bottom two to avoid relegat-ion.

The Arena League is a national initiative that is split in to six area zones.

The top teams go on to qualify for the regional and then national finals — but, from Pioneer’s point of view, the main aim of the evening was simply survi-val.

Having qualified seventh out of seven for the Stock-port event, Pioneer swim-mers had plenty to do — but they more than rose to the challenge.

Competing against six other clubs, they were placed in fourth place at the halfway stage but just two points ahead of the teams in the relegation zone.

But they saved their best until the second half of the meet, rising up to second place on the evening.

And in the final race of the night, Pioneer’s men’s freestyle medley team swam to victory to secure second place.

Pioneer swimmers also took part in the Bolton Metro Swimming Club’s Christmas Gala and came away with an impressive clutch of medals.

They scooped 11 golds, eight silvers and 17 bronze medals at the event held at Salford’s Broughton Baths.

And this was after a team of four Pioneer swimmers were denied the chance to take part in the Snow Frills meet in Sheffield due to the snow!

In Salford, Charlotte Brit-land made a splash for Pioneer after winning four gold medals in the girls over 15s event.

Elizabeth Greenwood won two golds and added a silver in the 11 Year Girls and in the same age group, Niamh Robinson’s picked up a gold and two bronze medals.

Natasha Rogan struck gold in the Nine Year Girls and also won bronze.

Boys gold medals winners were Joseph Murray in the 11 Year Boys, Connor Makin in the 14 Year Boys, who also won two silvers, and Aedan Magee in the 10 Year Boys whose personal haul included a silver and two bronze medals.

Other medal winners included Jasmin Scott (two bronze medals) in the 11 Year Girls, Jessica Magee (silver) in the 12 Year Girls, Shannon McGinty (bronze) in the over 15s while Alex Halstead won four bronze medals in the same age group.

Connor Roberts was Pioneer’s nearly man, winning no fewer than five silver medals in the Nine Year Boys category. Mitchell Healy picked up two bronze medals in the same group.

And William Beavan earned a bronze in the 12 Year Boys.

Swimmers who failed to medal but still impressed in the pool were: Abigail Murray, Meghann Leaver, Olivia Nichollls, Ellie Perris, Saffron Scott, Mesha Ingham-Francis, Imogen Losardo, Sarah Bryan and Jake Healy.

Medals were presented by Bolton Wanderers captain Kevin Davies.