A RIBCHESTER teenager has received a national swimming award for his contributions to the sport.

Morgan Gilmore, 13, claimed bronze in the national ASA Aquatics Awards — Youth Participant for his charity efforts and swimming instruction.

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The Longridge High School pupil raised more than £600 this year for the Marie Curie Foundation at multiple swimathons where he had to cover more than 100 lengths in one go against other competitors.

Morgan has been teaching his three-year-old brother Toby how to swim in the past few months.

Morgan said: “I am really happy to get the award because I spend a lot of my time swimming and I try really hard even if I feel tired.

“I enjoy it because I am good at it and because it keeps me really fit which makes me better at other sports like football and basketball which I also enjoy.”

Morgan’s mum Amy Gilmore said she nominated her son for the award for all the work he has done.

She said: “He practises swimming so much. He spends around 20 hours a week swimming at Preston Swimming Club. He spends two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening of most week days, and then spends around three hours on a Saturday practising.

“He gets up at 4am every day to be swimming at 5am. Then he goes to school. He is extremely dedicated. I am immensely proud. He is shy, polite and quiet and this sort of award gives him a big confidence boost and some recognition as he is helping his brother gain skills and raising money for a good cause.”

The awards ceremony was held in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

When asked if Morgan will take his swimming to the next level and possibly push to an Olympic standard, Mrs Gilmore said: “He wants to continue doing sport after school but we will have to see where it takes him.”