A year to remember for Accrington-based swimming club

The Accrington-based club has brought the curtain down on another season which will be remembered as the most successful in its history.

From Niamh Robinson representing the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games to the club having more swimmers than ever competing at national levels.

Pioneer 79 can now rightly claim to being on of the biggest and best swimming clubs in the North West.

That success was underlined at the Age Group Championships in Sheffield where four swimmers achieved 17 NQTs between them - with Robinson coming away with two medals.

The 14-year-old, certainly has had a year she will never forget - competing in the Commonwealth Games and reaching a semi final - and the icing on the cake were her two podium finishes in Sheffield.

Darwen-born Niamh won a bronze medal in the 200m individual medley, setting a new personal best time of 2mins 20.78secs. She had already swum a pb in qualifying where she was fifth fastest.

In the final itself, she slipped down into eighth position after the first turn, however, on her backstroke leg she worked her way up through the field and turned third. With the breaststroke being her strongest leg, she swam a very determined leg, turning first at the 150m and had a lead of 1.5secs Unfortunately, she was unable to maintain top spot on the freestyle leg, however put up a very good fight, and finished third place in a 3 second PB of 2.20.78!

Niamh’s second medal of the championships came on day four in the 100m breaststroke - and once again she smashed her personal best time.

The Canon Slade High School pupil qualified for the final in sixth place but then produced the swim of her life to win silver in a time of 1hr 12.78secs.

Niamh was joined in Sheffield by Natasha Rogan, Ben Turland and Ewan McKavett.

Natasha, 14, just like Niamh, also took part in the 200m individual medley and, like her Pioneer team-mate, was in personal best form.

She swam a new best time of 2mins 28.52secs in qualifying then knocked a further 2.5secs off her pb in the final where she finished in fifth place.

Natasha then took part in the 100m freestyle. She lowered her previous best time to qualify sixth fastest for the final where she finished in 10th place - a race where all 10 girls touched within three seconds of each other.

On day two, Niamh and Natasha were back in action alongside Meghann Turner and Alice Harding in the relays and Ben Turland who was making his championship debut.

In the 100m butterfly, Niamh set two personal best times, swimming 1min 3.70secs to finish in fifth place in the final. Natasha also set a new pb (1min 6.69secs) but just missed out on the final.

The pair were then joined by Meghann and Alice for the 4x100m freestyle and despite setting a new club record of 4mins 5.68secs then just missed out on a place in the final.

Ben kept his composure on his first appearance at this level and clocked 1min 2.77secs to finish in 24th place overall in the 100m freestyle.

Natasha was the only Pioneer swimmer in the pool on day three in the 200m butterfly.

She clocked the 10th fastest time in qualifying, touching in 2mins 29.70secs to reach the final where she finished in ninth place with a time of 2mins 29.59secs.

Day four was the busiest of the lot with all the Pioneer swimmings in action culminating with Niamh winning her silver medal.Ben was first up in the 200m freestyle where his time of 2mins 16.36secs was the 21st best of the day.

Natasha set a pb in her 100m backstroke heat with a time of 1min 7.65secs then bettered it with a time of 1min 7.56secs to finish in seventh place overall.

Following Niamh’s heroics, Ewan McKavett was in action competing in the event for the first time. The 14-year-old had spent three years trying to get a NQT and finally achieved it in the 100m butterfly where he clocked the 30th fastest time in 1min 3.65secs.

Finally, it was the turn of the 4x200IM relay where the foursome clocked a time of 9mins 1.29secs to finish 24th place overall.

Day five finished with Pioneer involved in the 4x100m medley relay.

Natasha took them out in the backstroke leg, clocking a new pb of 1min 7.25secs followed by Eleanor in the breaststoke (1min 19.51secs). Meghann swam under 1min 10secs for the first time ever in the butterfly, finishing in 1min 9.55secs before Alice bringing them home in the anchor leg in a time of 2mins 12.12secs for a combined time of 9mins 1.29secs - the 24th fastest overall.