The opening weekend of the County Championships proved to be a spectacular showcase of talent from the Liverpool region, with swimmers delivering a series of impressive performances across both the Lancashire and Cheshire events. Athletes from various clubs secured numerous medals, many in personal best times, highlighting the strength and depth of competitive swimming in the area.
Lancashire Championships Highlights in Manchester
At the Lancashire Championships held in Manchester, Rose Nickson of the City of Liverpool club set a formidable pace by clinching gold in the 400m Freestyle. She didn't stop there, adding three more gold medals to her tally, all achieved in personal best times, marking a stellar start for her team.
Notable Performances from Local Clubs
Matilda Bristow enjoyed a highly successful weekend, finishing with two golds, three silvers, and a bronze medal, including several personal bests. Albion Dobrushi shone in the distance events, taking gold in both the 400m and 800m Freestyle, which were part of an impressive five personal bests overall.
George Pearce was rewarded for his dedication with two golds and a silver, while Tilly Stevens, Kerry Hennie, and Sophie Dowding also contributed to the medal haul for their respective teams.
Everton and Other Club Successes
Everton's Dylan Harte was exceptionally busy, as seven personal bests propelled him to four golds, a silver, and a bronze. His club colleague, Ethan Dwyer, secured a gold and four silvers, demonstrating the club's strong presence.
Other notable achievements included Dominic Workman with a gold and silver, James Grant and Anthony Welsh each with a gold and bronze, and Thomas Ball with a silver and bronze. James Dixon took gold in the 800m Freestyle, aided by one of his two personal bests, while Marcus Cheung earned a silver, and Martha Sumnall and Megan Templeton claimed bronze medals.
Bridgefield and Southport Contributions
Bridgefield swimmers made their mark, with Niko Dorsz leading the charge by securing four golds and four personal bests. James Graham added two golds and two silvers to the team's tally, and Zackery Patino's three personal bests included a bronze in the 400m Freestyle.
Southport was well-represented, with Mia Robinson taking a gold and two silvers, and Thea Robinson earning a silver. Finlay Byrne and Kitty Dyson each secured two bronzes, while Callum Byrne and Ella Jenkins-Breen also added bronze medals to the collection.
Success from Crosby and Beyond
Crosby enjoyed a fruitful weekend, as personal bests helped Ethan Kelly to two golds. Ollie Lambert and Madison Rens each claimed a gold and silver, Ella Lambert secured a gold and bronze, and Kianna Hui took home a gold. Ffion Sinnott and Martha Baxter both returned with bronze medals.
Harry Prothero of Bootle and North Liverpool continued his excellent form, with six personal bests yielding a gold, a silver, and two bronzes. Teammate Zerrin Bentham added a bronze in the 200m Individual Medley.
Prescot, St Helens, and Ormskirk Achievements
Prescot's Ella Hewitt used four personal bests to secure a gold and a bronze, with teammate Izzy Cater earning a silver and Chloe Stewart a bronze. For St Helens, Rose Terry stood out with a gold, silver, and bronze, while Ormskirk's Joni Dunne took gold in the 200m Breaststroke.
Cheshire Championships Excellence
Just down the A34 at the Cheshire Championships, Wirral Metro's Abbie Roscoe led the way with an impressive four gold medals. Harper Aspinall also excelled, taking golds in the 400m and 800m Freestyle events.
Medal Hauls for Wirral Metro and Halton
Ben Stephenson returned home with a gold and three silvers, while Hope Birley-Brown and Ava Halliwell each ended the weekend with a gold and two silvers. Lauren Berry secured a gold, a silver, and two bronzes, and Lilly Horton added a gold, a silver, and a bronze to her collection. Vivien Wilkinson, with a gold and silver, along with Petra Varga and William Sowden, also made it to the podium.
Halton celebrated a great weekend, highlighted by Anthony Wawrzyniak's four golds. Jacob Agate claimed a bronze and silver, with Freya Karaski, Bella-Mai Fishwick, and Layla Keeble also earning medals.
Bebington Team Highlights
Sophia Hewlett spearheaded the Bebington team's efforts, securing a gold, a silver, and a bronze. Logan Savage complemented this by taking bronze in the 200m Breaststroke, rounding off a successful campaign for the club.
This weekend of competition not only showcased individual brilliance but also underscored the vibrant swimming culture across the Liverpool region, with athletes setting new benchmarks and inspiring future generations in the sport.
