PIONEER 79’s podium power stood out after the Accrington-based swimming club scooped more than 100 medals at the Prescot Spring Meet.

Over the course of the weekend, there was a steady stream of swimmers who made the trip to the winners rostrum as Pioneer won an astonishing 49 gold, 34 silver and 32 bronze medals..

With swimmers aware that it was a last chance to qualify for the North West Regional Championships they took full advantage with 48 of them clocking times good enough to book their place.

During recent months, Pioneer 79 has seen a number of new faces joining the competitive section of the club. And two of them, Mia Smith and Niamh Howarth, were among the medals at the Prescott pool.

For Mia, nine, it was her first time at an open event but she did the club proud, winning two silver and two bronze medals.

Niamh, having only recently joined Pioneer, had a successful competition, winning one silver and four bronze medals..

Along side the new-comers there was also an old face in action with Connor Makin recently re-joined the club after getting back into the water at Loughborough University.

He competed in the 100m Free (12th), 100m Breaststroke (4th) and 50m Breaststroke (5th).

Another swimmer who competed was Ethan Naisbitt, 11, one of the club’s competitive disability swimmers.

He also impresssed in the pool, winning a bronze medal in the 100m Backstroke in a time of 1min 55.11secs, - knocking over four seconds off his previous best time. He also entered three other events, gaining PBs in each event.

Medallists at this competition were: Simone Ellson (5 Silver, 2 Bronze), Olivia Nicholls (1 Gold, 2S), Harry Bentham (1S, 2B), Ben Havers-strong (5G, 2S), Daniel Bentham (1G, 1B), Ben Makin (6G, 1S), Tom Baynes (2B), Ben Turland (9G, 2S), Beth Hartwell (3G, 2S), Izabel Forrest (2B), Charlotte Dunn (2G, 1S, 3B), Ellie Ward (1S, 3B), Abi Murray (2G), Gabrielle McSorley (7G), Ellie Perris (2G,2S), Niamh Howarth (1S, 4B), Dominic Testa-Oneill (1S), Joe Murray (2S, 1B), Mia Smith (2S, 2B), Meghann Leaver (3G, 5S), Timothy Joseph (1G, 1S, 2B), Martha Smith (2G, 1S) , Ethan Naisbitt (1B), Tom Gilroy (2G), Elodie Smallwood (1S, 2B), Jozef Gordon (2B), Mikaela Shackleton (1G), Harry Robinson (1G, 2S), Maddie Rogan (1S, 1B) and Josh Baynes (1S) Other swimmers competing at this competition were: Kara Pedley, Katherine Waters, Rachel Waters, Lilly Gregg and Dominic Testa-ONeill. Every swimmer who took part earned new personal best times in at least one event which is a testament to the hard work and dedication that each and every one of them put into their training week in week out. Pioneer 79 Swimming Club Head Coach, Mike Wilson said was delighted with the efforts of his team.

“Once against our swimmers have returned with some impressive results,” he said.

“I would like to express my congratulations to each of them, not only for their individual performances, but their performance as a team. “The number of swimmers we have competing now is continually growing and the Club on a whole is going from strength to strength. “The swimmers’ determination in the pool against both other clubs and fellow teammates is producing many more personal best times and a very healthy competitive group of swimmers.

“With the Regional Championships just around the corner, Pioneer 79 is a club that should without doubt, be up there within the top 15 clubs in the North West.”