A TRIO of Burnley Bobcats swimmers came away with gold medals and personal best times at the first ever City of Manchester Snow’pen.

Harry Pilkington, Elliot Norman and Ella Sheridan struck gold as a team of 14 Bobcats swimmers took part in the Snow’pen at Manchester Aquatic Centre – a new event in the swimming calendar.

And it proved extremely popular with 33 clubs from across the country taking part, including teams from Jersey, Middlesbrough, Birmingham and the Isle of Man. However, the Bobcats were more than a match for the best of the rest.

Harry and Elliot came away with the most podium places and recording personal best times in all of their events.

Harry won gold in the 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly, and silver medals in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle and 400m freestyle events. FROM PAGE 13 Elliot took gold in the 50m breaststroke, silver in the 200m breaststroke and bronze medals in the 50m butterfly, 100m breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley, Ella, 13, took gold in the 400m freestyle and 200m freestyle events.

But there were other Bobcats swimmers to starred in the pool.

Ellie Taylor, 12, gained silver in the 50m freestyle while 14-year-old Katie Rennolds also won silver in the 800m freestyle race.

Other swimmers, aged between 12 and 16 years old, took part and gained pbs over the weekend were William Beaven, Robert Bryce, Dean Moorhouse, William Murray, Lucy Cole, Emma Fothergill, Kerry Holding, Erica Minozzi and Charlotte Waddington.

A number of the swimmers also obtained regional qualifying times and some were within seconds of gaining their national qualifying times so early in the season.

Head Coach Michael Robinson said “It was a great weekend with some good personal bests at such a competitive meet.”