KATE WARD made a big splash at the Welsh National Age Groups in Swansea.

The 15-year-old returned to Tyldesley SC with a fistful of medals.

She took gold in the 200 butterfly, winning by an astonishing SEVEN seconds.

She also picked up silvers in the 100 butterfly (pipped to gold by 200 hundredth of a second) and 50 freestyle plus bronze in the 100 freestyle.

NINE youngsters from Tyldesley SC featured in the first Warburton gala of the 1999 series.

Andrew Hurst was the top performer, producing PBs for silver in the 16-Year 50 butterfly and bronze in the 100 freestyle.

James Gendall hit a PB in the 14-Year 100 breaststroke, Mark Hurst (PB) and Stephanie Thompson secured fourths, and there sixths for Samantha Greensmith, Samantha Thompson and Sarah Wood.

Michael Robinson knocked five seconds off his PB in the 10-Year 50 backstroke, Michelle Greensmith hit a PB in the 12-Year 100 freestyle, Charlotte Steele producing a fine swim in the same event.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.