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Stars make a big splash

13/ 4/2006

BAXENDEN St John's swam to success in the Hyndburn Primary Schools Swimming Gala.

The gala, running for its sixth year, took place at Hyndburn Sports Centre and featured eight Primary Schools from the Hyndburn area who each had 10 swimmers representing their individual schools.

Participants competed in various events such as Individual Medley, breaststroke, backstroke and 4 x 25 relay medley, progressing through heats to the finals.

The Mayor of Hyndburn, Clr. Janet Storey was present to witness the finals and present the medals to the first three swimmers.

There were also shields for the winning Boys Team which came from last year's overall winners of St Johns with St Augustines.

In the girls event, Baxenden totalled the highest number of points to take the shield home.

Overall, Baxenden proved the most consistent school and beat off some fierce competition to take the overall title, much to the delight of their vociferous support.

A number of individual records were also broken on the evening which included Paige Doutel of Belthorn, Max Butler and Monica McCallion of St Mary's, Abigail Beardmore of Baxenden and Jack Braham of Peel Park.

Team records in the freestyle relay were also broken by Baxenden girls and Peel Park boys.

The Baxenden girls also followed this up by breaking the record for the medley relay, a feat repeated by the boys team from Peel Park.

Sports Development Officer George Cull praised the volunteers who organised the event: "The success of the gala is down to the hard work of the officials and volunteers from Accrington Swimming Club and Pioneer 79 Swimming Club.

"Both clubs worked together with Hyndburn Sports Centre and Sports Development to ensure that the gala ran smoothly.

"A special mention must also go to the parents and supporters who turned up to cheer on the young people and the schools, the support was excellent, if not a little too noisy for the officials at times!"

For more information on swimming in Hyndburn please contact the Sports Development Team on 01254 380288.