MORE than 40 Pioneer 79 swimmers travelled over the border to Yorkshire to compete in the Harrogate Spa Gala – and returned to Lancashire with a clutch of medals.

The event, split in to A Grade and B Grade levels, attracted clubs from across the north of England which packed in to the Hydro Pool.

But Pioneer swimmers certainly stood out from the crowd as they bagged an incredible haul of medals.

Between them, in the A Grade meet they returned with 32 gold medals, 30 silver and 34 bronze while in the B Grade another 18 golds, 13 silvers and 17 bronze medals were won.

The swimmers were also aiming to achieve regional qualifying times throughout the event and achieved 34 between them.

The most incredible of them all was achieved by 10-year-old Katie Hale, who in the 400m individual medley, achieved her first ever RQT to enable her to compete in the 11/12 year age category and in doing so, she also walked away with the only ‘speeding ticket’ of the competition for the Pioneer swimmers – which means that she was actually too fast for a medal.

There were also a number of new nine-year-olds making an appearance at the event, including Amelia Moss, Grace Holland, Ryan Armstrong, Mia Prickett and Mia Newton who, between them, won six medals.

Coach Steve Davison said: “I would like to congratulate every one of our swimmers on yet again another massively successful weekend of racing.

“The performances included many personal best times and regional qualifying times.

“We truly are a team full of team spirit and words cannot express how proud I am.

“The parents’ support over both days was incredible.

“Well done to everyone on yet another successful competition.”

n ‘A’ Grade medallists:

Simone Ellson (3G,1S), Jacob Gibson (1B), Charlotte Collin (2G,4S), Izabel Forrest (3G,3S,2B), Charlotte Dunn (2G,4S,3B), Grace Holland (1S), Lily Gregg (1B), Balyie Seery-Kelly (2G,1S), Sam Curran (2G,3S,2B), Leah Williams (3G,3S,2B), Matt Sharpe (3G,2S), Olivia Nicholls (2S,2B), Caitlin Armstrong (1B), Beth Hartwell (4G,4S,1B), Mia Smith (1S,3B), Ellie Ward (2G,1B), Ben Gibbs(3G), Kara Pedley (1B), Alishia Heath (1B), Ruby Cain (1S), Tom Baynes (1B), Martha Smith (1G,2B), Isabel Martin (1S,1B), Mia Newton (1S), Jasmin Lahey (1G).

n ‘B’ Grade Meet medallists:

Emily Sharpe (1G,1S), Grace Holland (1S), Anya Pedley (1S), Amy Barlow (2S,2B), Caitlin Woodend (1B), Isabel Martin (1G), Ryan Armstrong (1B), Jake Cooper (1G,1B), Josh Baynes (1B), Rachel Waters (2G,1B), Emily Nuttall (2G,1S,1B), Tom Baynes (1G), Sam Curran (1G), Erin Leaver (1S,1B), Sam Fenton (3S), Amelia Moss (2G), Katherine Waters (2G,1S,1B), Kenzi Ormerod (2G,2B), Ella Williams (1S), Mia Nobbs (1G), Kara Pedley (1B), Daisy Moss (2B).