Last updated 19:29, Thursday, 13 November 2008

COCKERMOUTH Swimming Club member Ryan Clifford produced some fantastic performances at the North West Regional Championships in Manchester.

The breast specialist comfortably made the final in the 50, 100 and 200 metres, improving on his heat times in each event.

In the 50m final Clifford finished seventh overall and fourth-placed junior with a solid time of 33.36.

He then went on to take a superb silver in the junior 100m in 1.14.20, his first regional medal.

Not satisfied with that, he then swam an impressive 200m, taking a second-and-a-half off his heat time and ensuring him the junior bronze.

Cockermouth Swimming Club were struggling with illness and injury going into the second round of the North West Swimming League.

The depleted team travelled to Salford in determined mood, and the 11 and under boys – Thomas Milburn, Luke Greenbank, Christian Balmer and Edward Baxter – produced two great relay swims, finishing second in the medley and third in the free.

Greenbank went on to finish second in both the 50m freestyle and 50m fly while Milburn and Baxter also added valuable points with seconds in the 50m back and breast.

Lucy McKenzie had two terrific swims in her individuals, taking maximum points in the 50m freestyle and 50m fly in the 11-and-under age group.

Rebekka Lyall-Smith had a fantastic 100m breast in the 15-and-under group, finishing second in 1.24.19. She also helped team-mates Katie Bell, Helen Asquith and Jenn Brown take second in the open medley relay. Jasmine Balmer swam a solid 50m breast in the 13-and-under group to finish third.

Asquith and Craig Elliot finished first in the open 100m fly. Elliot also took first in the 100m free and had two superb free legs in the open relays with splits of 23.52 and 23.35.

Asquith added a second in the 100m back as did Katie Bell in the 100m individual medley and Simon Smith in both the medley and back.

Ryan Clifford finished third in the 100m breast. Sam Fleet joined Elliot, Smith and Clifford to finish second in the medley and free relays.

Cockermouth finished fourth place out of six teams.