Swimmers clinch top-club award

OLDHAM Amateur Swimming Club emerged with the top club award from the Central Lancashire Championships and age-group gala.

Blake Wilson was the star of the show in the boys’ championships, taking home gold in the 100m breaststroke, silver in the 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle and bronze in the 100m freestyle.

In the girls’ championships, Sophie Kenny struck gold in the 100m butterfly, Rhiannon Prestage bronze in both the 50m and 100m freestyle events and Jessica Fullalove bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Dylan Stockton impressed with a silver medal in the boys’ nine-years age group competition on his championship debut, Kyle Clegg won double gold in the 10-years age group 50m breaststroke and butterfly as well as silver in the 50m backstroke and bronze in the freestyle.

In the girls’ 11-years age group, Olivia Askew won gold in the 50m freestyle and silvers in the butterfly and backstroke, while team-mate Caitlin Wareing won silver in the 50m breaststroke and bronze in the freestyle.

Rhiannon Prestage was a treble gold winner in the girls’ 13-years age group, winning the 50m backstroke, freestyle and butterfly.

In the boys’ 14-years age group, Harry Entwhistle won triple silver in the 50m freestyle, backstroke and butterfly and Ian Martin won bronze in the 50m backstroke.

In the meet’s final event, Oldham’s mixed 200m relay team of Rhiannon Prestage, Jessica Fullalove, Blake Wilson and Ash Ratchford were victorious.

Oldham finished clear of the field in their Central Lancashire Jubilee League Gala, held at the Copley Sports Centre, defeating local club Stalybridge as well as Darwen.

The girls’ 10-years age group dominated their events, Amy Cunningham winning the 25m backstroke and butterfly with Fleur Mitchell triumphing in the 25m breaststroke and freestyle. Dylan Stockton won the boys’ 25m butterfly and freestyle in the same age group.

Maximum points were gained by the girls in the 11-years age group, Olivia Askew winning the 50m freestyle, butterfly and backstroke and Kiandra Basnett the 50m breaststroke.

For the boys, Kyle Clegg won the 50m breaststroke and butterfly with Michael Entwhistle winning the 50m freestyle.

Caitlin Wareing and Beth Peak won the 50m breaststroke and freestyle respectively in the 12-years girls’ age group, with Hayden Saville winning the 50m breaststroke in the boys’ event.

Rhiannon Prestage won the 50m freestyle and backstroke in the 13-years age group, with Jessica Fullalove winning the 50m breaststroke.

In the relay events, the girls’ 11-years age group team of Natasha Sabel, Kiandra Basnett, Olivia Askew and Sara Loft won the freestyle and medley, with the boys’ team of Sammy Ireland, Kyle Clegg, Dylan Stockton and Michael Entwistle also triumphing in both events.

In the girls’ 13-years age group, Rebecca Lewis, Beth Peak, Jessica Fullalove and Rhiannon Prestage also won the freestyle relay with Caitlin Wareing replacing Peak in the medley team which also won.

The final event was the cannon relay, comprising one swimmer from each of the age groups, and Fleur Mitchell, Olivia Askew, Beth Peak and Rhiannon Prestage took Oldham to victory.

Result: Oldham 151, Stalybridge 129, Darwen 86.

Oldham also made a successful start in the Central Lancashire Junior League with an emphatic win against Atherton and Leigh Swimming Club, winning all 24 events.

Result: Leigh and Atherton 34, Oldham 72.