Pioneer 79 were top of the pile at the Bolton and Manchester Age Group Swimming Championships in Manchester.

The Pioneer 79 team finished on top in the overall points section of the competition with 553 points –93 points ahead of their nearest rivals Glossop.

The Pioneer 79 Boys team also finished at the peak with 298 points – just 23 points ahead of Aquabears.

The girls team finished in second place with 255 points, just 44 points behind Glossop who won with 299 points.

With 29 clubs taking part, this was a fantastic result with Pioneer 79 also bringing back 82 medals – 38 gold, 28 silver and 16 bronze.

The medalists were:

  • 10 year boys: Connor Roberts – 2 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze
  • 10 year girls: Natasha Rogan – 9 gold, 3 silver
  • 11 year boys: Ewan McKavett – 2 silver, 2 bronze
  • 11 year girls: Olivia Nicholls – 1 bronze
  • 12 year boys: Joseph Murray – 2 gold, 1 silver; Declan Charnock – 1 gold
  • 12 year girls: Niamh Robinson – 6 gold
  • 13 year boys: James Harding – 3 silver, 1 bronze
  • 15 year boys: Connor Makin – 1 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze; John McKavett – 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze; Thomas Gilroy – 2 gold
  • 16+ girls: Charlotte Britland – 8 gold, 4 silver; Shannon McGinty – 3 silver, 5 bronze
  • 16+ boys: Richard Eccles – 6 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze

Four of the Pioneer 79 swimmers also set seven New Bolton and Manchester Age-Group Championship records

Charlotte Britland (17) broke the 16 years + girls 100m Individual Medley record by setting a new time of 1.09.14.

In the 50m Backstroke she finished in 31.42 and the 100m Backstroke, she set a new record of 1.06.75, managing to break the 1.07 barrier which Charlotte has been trying to break for a few years – it was a fantastic birthday present as she turned 18 just days later.

Niamh Robinson smashed the 12 year girls 200m Breaststroke record, with 2.46.28. In the 100m Breaststroke, she set a new record time of 1.17.74.

Natasha Rogan broke the girls 10 years 50m Butterfly record, setting 33.72.

Richard Eccles, 20, broke the 16 years + boys 100m Breaststroke record, swimming to victory in a fantastic time of 1.08.26.

Many of the other swimmers set personal best times, along with achieving many county and regional qualifying times.

The Lancashire County Championships are the next major event at the beginning of March.

In the top boy/girl awards, Pioneer 79 had nine swimmers in the top six positions of their individual age groups:

  • Charlotte Britland (16+girls), Natasha Rogan (9/10 girls) and Richard Eccles (16+boys) took 1st place
  • Connor Roberts (9/10 boys) took 2nd place
  • Shannon McGinty (16+ girls) and Connor Makin (15 boys) took 3rd place
  • Niamh Robinson (12 girls) took 4th place
  • James Harding (13 boys) took 5th place
  • Olivia Nicholls (11 girls) took 6th place.

Pioneer 79 head coach Mike Wilson said: "All our swimmers deserve the success that we have had in this competition, they have put some great effort into training and their hard work and dedication has paid off.

"It is great to see so many of our swimmers achieving such high standards and obviously enjoying their experience.

"The swimmers are now looking forward to the County Championships."

For further information about Pioneer 79 Swimming Club, contact Susan Walsh on 01254 390793, or log on to www.pioneer79.org.uk.

The club are currently offering any new members joining the club their first month fees free of charge.