Pioneer 79 Swimming Club have regained their North West Premier League status after winning the Division One title in a dramatic play-off at Salford’s Broughton Pool.

The Accrington Academy-based club won the Division One title by just three points as they went head-to-head with six other clubs from across the north west.

Promotion means Pioneer have regained their status as one of the top 16 swimming clubs in the North West alongside the likes of City of Liverpool, City of Salford and Stockport Metro.

Pioneer were competing against Bebington, COSACSS, Hoylake, Wrexham and Everton..

After 10 events, Pioneer 79 led the way with 46 points with nearest rivals Bebington and Wrexham both on 40 points. And at the half way point, Pioneer had stormed to a strong 11 point lead with a score of 111 points.

As well as the fantastic efforts in the pool their supporters were without doubt the loudest and most enthusiastic on poolside – and this proved to be crucial in the latter stages of the competitor.

Their rivals stormed back in the final 10 relay races, some much so that Pioneer were unsure if they had done enough to maintain their leading position.

So it was with great relief and jubilation, that once the final race had been swum and the results calculated, that Pioneer 79 were announced winners by just three points.

  • Final results: 1. Pioneer 79 206 pts, 2. Bebington 203pts, 3. Wrexham 185pts, 4. Everton176pts, 5. COSACCS 148pts 6. Hoylake 120 pts. Pioneer 79 also won the supporters trophy.

. . . and club pupils are top class too!

Pioneer 79 swimmers competed in school colours recently at the English Schools Swimming Association’s Secondary Schools national finals in Coventry.

The event brought together the cream of the crop with only the top 16 schools in the country making the final.

Niamh Robinson, 13, competed for Canon Slade School Bolton.  She qualified for the finals in 7th position in both the Junior 4x50 freestyle and medley relays with Canon Slade finishing sixth overall in the medley and ninth in the Freestyle Relay.

Joseph Murray,13, Ewan McKavett 12, John McKavett, 15, and Thomas Gilroy, 15, all represented ‘St Christopher’s CE High School’.  Joseph swam in the junior 4x50 medley relay and helped the school to ninth overall. 

Ewan took part in the junior 4x50 freestyle relay qualifying 16th where they maintained their position.

And John and Thomas both swam in the intermediate medley team. After qualifying for the competition in 15th position, they climbed three places to finish 12th.