BURNLEY Bobcats were crowned top club after returning from the Swim Ulster Spring gala with a haul of 118 medals.

William Beaven and Katie Rennolds, both 17, won eight medals each - Beaven winning gold in the 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle; 50m breaststroke and 50m and 100m butterfly events and silver in the 200m Individual Medley.

Rennolds success came in the 800m, 400m, 200m and 100m freestyle; 50m and 100m butterfly and 50m backstroke and picked up silver in the 50m freestyle.

Miranda Bower won gold in all three breaststroke events while the 16-year-old won silver in the 100m backstroke and bronze in the 100m freestyle.

Colette Meade, 16, gained silver medals in the 200m IM; 100m and 200m freestyle; 100m and 200m breaststroke; and bronze medals in the 50m freestyle and breaststroke events.

And Grace Pickles, also 16, struck gold in the 400m freestyle and bronze in the 200m IM, 200m freestyle and 100m breaststroke. Ellie Taylor won gold in the 200m IM; 100m and 200m freestyle; silver in the 50m and 400m freestyle and 100m butterfly; bronze in the 50m and 100m backstroke and 50m butterfly.

And Tom Brown (S14) disability swimmer won a gold medal in the 1500m freestyle and a 400m IM silver.

Harry Pilkington, 15, won six golds in the 200m IM; 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle; 50m and 100m butterfly and silver in the 400m freestyle and 50m backstroke.

Thomas Mackay won gold in the 1500m and 400m freestyle and 400m IM; and silver in the 200m IM; 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events.

In the under 14s, Elliot Norman won nine medals - gold in the 200m IM; 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke; 200m freestyle and 50m fly; silver in the 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle and bronze in the 50m freestyle. Harvey Griffin won gold in the 50m freestyle, silver in the 50m and 200m freestyle and 50m butterfly and bronze medals in the 200m IM, 100m freestyle and butterfly events.

Alice Fox, also 14, won two gold medals in the 200m IM and 200m freestyle, silver in the 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke bronze. Caitlin Birkett-Bentley, 13, won silver medals in the three breaststroke events and bronze in the 50m backstroke. And Darcy Williams, who won medals in all her backstroke events - silver in the 50m and 100m and bronze in the 200m.

Ben Havers-Strong won gold in the 1500m freestyle, 400m IM, 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly and freestyle; silver in the 200m IM, 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and butterfly and 50m backstroke, and finally bronze in the 200m breaststroke.

Lily Duckworth struck gold in the 200m IM, 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke, and the 200m backstroke. She added silver medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke and finally a bronze in the 100m backstroke. Mia Sheridan won silver medals in the 200m IM, 50m backstroke and butterfly and bronze in the 50m and 200m breaststroke and 100m backstroke.

Northern Ireland, under leadership of Head Coach,

Noel Horton with every swimmers making their way home with a medal. The squad certain made their mark in Northern Ireland with a haul of 118 medals and crowned Top Club swimming alongside Irish swimming clubs including Lisburn City, Bangor, Enniskillen, City of Derry.

During the weekend there were some fantastic races in the 10 lane 50m pool and at times Bobcats were being placed in the top three positions in a number of events in all age categories, both boys and girls.

Katie Rilett-Young, Bobcats S6 disability swimmer attended the event but due to injury was unable to compete in the events she had entered but she proved to be Bobcats best supporter over the weekend.

Head Coach Noel Horton said “this proved to be an excellent team building exercise, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all, and to win so many medals and be crowned Top Club was unbelievable. I am so proud of all the swimmers, they have certainly put Burnley and Bobcats on the map”.

Photograph shows the squad at the Bangor pool and jetting off at Manchester Airport.

Burnley Bobcats train at St Peters Centre, Burnley nine times a week under Head Coach Noel Horton and all training times and information can be found at www.burnleybobcats.org.uk