10:37am Tuesday 13th February 2007
By Steve Tinniswood
IT looks like it is going to be another successful year for Pioneer 79 Swimming Club if their most recent performance is anything to go by.
For the club took a team to the Bolton and Manchester Associations Age Group galas - and returned with a clutch of medals and record breakers.
A total of 50 swimmers took part in the top event, held at the Commonwealth Games Pool in Manchester, and included clubs from Bolton, Wigan, Trafford, Stockport and Manchester.
And after three days of events, the Pioneer swimmers broken nine records.
Connor Makin lead the way with three personal bests in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke while Jared Potter rewrote the record books in the 50m breaststroke and 100m individual medley.
Other new records went to Amelia Candon in the 200m freestyle, Max Butler in the 400m individual medley, Paige Doutel in the 400m individual medley and James Thompson in the 50m butterfly.
In total, the club collected 55 medals including 19 golds, 16 silvers and 20 bronze medals with over 100 top six finishes.
It was enough for Pioneer to clinch second place behind Trafford Metro Swim Squad - a tremendous achievement considering over 30 clubs took part.
Head Coach, Lee Stringfellow was delighted with the team's performance.
He said: "This was a superb event for our swimmers to shine so early on in the season. To collect such a huge amount of medals, so many top six places and countless personal best times, is outstanding. We had many swimmers achieving County and Regional times and two swimmers gaining National qualifying times.
"Everyone is swimming with confidence and the club as a whole is going from strength to strength. We are challenging the larger city squads through sheer hard work and a great mental attitude to the sport.
"This season promises to be one of the best in the club's history, and I am proud to be part of it, let alone leading it!"
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