TWO young swimmers from Pioneer 79 swapped club for county colours after representing Lancashire in the ASA National County Team Swimming Championships in Sheffield.

Natasha Rogan, 13, was making her county debut while 15-year-old Niamh Robinson was back in the pool after a memorable summer that included representing the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

And both played their part in helping Lancashire – which also included Burnley Bobcats Josh Lambert and Harry Pilkington – to an incredible 13th consecutive victory at the Ponds Forge pool.

Robinson was first in action, taking part in the 100m butterfly. In a highly competitive final, she finished in second place behind Yorkshire swimmer Amelia Clynes in 1min 1.62secs – smashing her personal best by nearly two seconds.

It was also a new IOM Junior Short Course record and made Robinson the 16th fastest British 15 year old girl ever recorded in the ASA Rankings Database.

Next up was the 100m butterfly and in a race where all eight swimmers were within a second of each other at the half way stage, Robinson showed real grit and determination to finish in third place with a time of 1min 9.79secs which was another PB.

It was a time that made her the eighth fastest British 15 year girl ever recorded in the ASA Rankings Database and 52nd fastest overall the Open Age Group.

Rogan’s first event was the backstroke leg of the girls 12/13 years 4x50m Medley Relay, along with Holly Rowlinson, Ellie Molyneux and Athena Clayson.

She swam a very strong first leg for the team, finishing the 50m in a new PB time of 30.71secs and helping Lancashire just pip Middlesex to first place

Her next event was the 100m backstroke and after a storming 75m, she tired in the closing stages but still held on for an impressive fourth place in a time of 1min 5.43secs which was another PB.

Robinson returned to the pool in the 4x50m medley relay with Hannah Kelsall, Emma Whittingham and Samantha-Jo Hollings. Robinson’s 50m Breaststroke leg was superb, helping Lancashire go from fifth to second. Her split time of 31.47secs was the second fastest in the field as Lancashire finished in sixth place.

Once all the results had been added together, Lancashire pipped Somerset to the Division One title with the Pioneer pair more than playing their part.

Lancashire finished with Somerset with 472 points and Yorkshire third with 427 points.

“With 105 clubs affiliated to the County of Lancashire, having two swimmers selected from the P79 is a great achievement,” said club spokesman Sue Brown. “Pioneer 79 Swimming Club are extremely proud of both girls to have been selected to compete for Lancashire at these Championships, it shows the club is gaining in strength.

“Niamh and Natasha thoroughly enjoyed competing for Lancashire, the team spirit was excellent and the atmosphere at the pool was breathtaking.”