SWIMMERS from Haslingden High School took on the best from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Blackburn in a gala and walked away with the trophy.

The school, which only started its club Haslingden Aces about a year ago, is proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the pool.

So popular is the after-school club on a Thursday it has a waiting list of eager students wanting to join.

Robyn Jones, 13, and Dylan Smith, 14, were two of the 20-strong team that took on QEGS in the gala.

Both admitted they had been reluctant to take part in any of the extra-curricular opportunities available at the school until they joined the Aces.

Year 8 Robyn said: “I joined because I wanted to keep fit but the teachers have made it so I now love swimming and it is now one of my favourite sports. You get to make lots of new friends.”

Robyn won her backstroke race, was second in the freestyle and her team were highly placed in the relay races.

Dylan competed in the freestyle and relay races.

He said: “It was really good fun. I started at the club to build up my stamina for football and cross country but I have found I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

“At the gala all the training and hard work we had put in paid off.”