PIONEER 79 Swimming Club members swapped club for school duties recently and produced some top class performances.

Young swimmers competed in swimming galas across East Lancashire and beyond – some even competing in more than one event – and did the club and schools proud.

Three Pioneers swimmers competed in the Darwen Primary School Swimming Championships Izabel Forrest, 11, competed for Ashleigh Primary School where she stormed to victory in the 25m freestyle. She then went on to compete in both the freestyle and medley relays where she anchored her team to Gold Medal position in both relays. Charlotte Collin, 11, and nine-year-old Harry Robinson competed for Avondale Primary School. Charlotte also picked up a gold medal, finishing first in the 25m backstroke while Harry took part in the 25m freestyle where he finished in joint first place.

The pair also competed in the freestyle and medley relays, with both the girls and boys relays taking silver medal.

Gabriella Sandham, 10, competed at the 27th junior school annual swimming gala at QEGS, Blackburn.

Gabriella won gold medals in the 100m individual medley, 25m front crawl and 25m butterfly.

She also compete in the girls medley relay where she assisted her team by recovering over a third of the length on the butterfly leg to clinch top spot for her house Howard.

And three other swimmers crossed the boarder to compete in the Craven District School Swimming Finals in Skipton.

Brothers Ben and William Havers-Strong competed for Thornton in Craven Primary School, Skipton. Ben, 10, swam in three events, the 25m backstroke, freestyle relay and medley relay, taking gold medals in each, while his younger brother William, eight, also swam three events - 25m freestyle, freestyle relay and medley relay. And, just like his brother, also took gold in each event. Olivia Taylor competed for Lothersdale in Keighley and finished third in the 25m freestyle, helped her team to second place in the freestyle relay then went one better in the medley relay.