BURNLEY Bobcats entered the Rotherham Metro Gala held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield over the weekend of 18/19 July 2015 and won a hoard of medals with Lily-Grace Duckworth (12) being crowned Top Girl at the end of the two day event.

Lily achieved medals in all her 12 events to win her the title of Top Girl across all age groups.

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She won seven gold medals in the 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle, 50m and 100m breaststroke and 200m backstroke, followed by four silver medals in the 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 100m and 200m individual medley races and bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Harvey Griffin (13) swam as a Bobcat for the first time at Sheffield and achieved medals in all his 12 individual events winning nine gold medals in the 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle, 100m and 200m IM, 50m and 100m butterfly; silver in the 100 breaststroke and 50m backstroke, and a bronze in the 100m backstroke and was unfortunate to miss out by just one point on winning the Top Boy prize throughout all ages.

Elliot Norman (14) won eight medals in total - gold in the 200m freestyle, 50m and 100m breaststroke and 100m individual medley; silver in the 100m IM, 400 freestyle, 200m breaststroke and finally a bronze in the 50m freestyle.

Matthew Boyd (11) swam exceptionally well to win a gold medal in the 100m backstroke, silver in the 100m butterfly and 50m backstroke events and lastly a bronze medal in the 200m butterfly.

Darcy Williams (12) produced some great personal bests over the weekend to win silver in the 100m backstroke followed by bronze medals in the 200m butterfly, 200m IM and 200m backstroke.

Colette Meade, Ellie Taylor and Miranda Bower, all aged 15-years-old. all won medals during the weekend. Colette won gold in the 200m freestyle and bronze medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley.

Ellie won gold in the 200m individual medley and 100m butterfly, silver in the 100m backstroke, 400m freestyle and 50m butterfly with bronze in the 100m freestyle.

Miranda won gold in the 50m breaststroke and silver medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events with a bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Siblings Anna (12) and Tom Brown (16) swam a number of events with Anna winning a silver medal in the 200m butterfly.

Saffron Fenton (14) won bronze medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events with Anna Ashworth (11) also competing in a number of races and achieving good personal bests, especially breaststroke.

Swimming at her first competitive gala was 9 year old Sianna Smith who achieved personal bests in all her events at the international pool.

Kerry Holding (19), who was swimming for the last time as a Bobcat after 10 years at the club before starting a scholarship in the United States, won gold medals in the 100m Individual Medley and 100m freestyle, with silver medals in the 200m Individual Medley and 100m butterfly events.

Katie-Rilett Young (16) Bobcats’ S6 swimmer, swam exceptionally well and achieved a 12 second personal best in the 200m Individual Medley to qualify her to swim at the ASA Summer Nationals in early August.

Head Coach Noel Horton was delighted for his swimers.

He said: “It was a fantastic achievement for Lily to win the Top Girl award, it was so very well deserved.

“For the squad to win the number of medals they did was brilliant.

“Personal bests were achieved by all swimmers at this gala and as we near the end of the season and I hope this continues with squad members who have qualified to swim at the British Summer Championships and the Summer ASA Nationals.

“Let’s hope they will be rewarded in the same fashion.”

  • Burnley Bobcats who hold a number of training sessions at the St Peter’s Centre, Burnley can be contacted by visiting www.burnleybobcats.org.uk.