Kendal held their latest Club Championship events in the town’s Leisure Centre and supporters were able to enjoy some outstanding performances.

James Escolme, Adam Stansfield and Evan Dart all got off to a great start and put themselves in a position from where they could make their bid for victory.

It quickly became evident that this would come down to a battle of strength, steady stroke work and experience from the big guns.

Out of transition Escolme took it on and set a steady tempo shoulder to shoulder with his challengers.

Through the Butterfly and turning into Backstroke each one waited for that moment to inject more pace and make a further bid for glory.

At this point each swimmer knew that Escolme would turn on the screws and Both Stansfield and Dart had to hold to their stroke rate and save some reserve energy for the final drive to the finish hitting the line for a superb Gold leaving Stansfield with Silver and Dart with Bronze.

At 11yrs of age pocket rocket Elliot Dart produced a performance well beyond his years and over the four strokes refused to give way at any stage, completing the race in 5:42.26 which put him in 4th place and the knowledge that he could be a future winner of this event.

The girls found a new Champion amongst its ranks this year.

15 year old Emma Duxbury has put in some terrific swims over the last few years, at both indoor and outdoor events and found herself in the minor positions. This time however she got her chance and seized it with both hands.

With the 400 Individual Medley as one of her best events she flew off the blocks and out of transition set a devastating pace.

Kate Collin and Kara Van Der Meve both clung on, working hard but were unable to make any impression, with Duxbury showing great technique coupled with outstanding talent to time her finish to perfection in 6:00.83 and become Ladies 400m Individual Medley Champion for 2023, the first of her career.

Collin swam the race of her life, staying composed and holding her nerve and refusing to panic through each element of the race to take Silver leaving Van Der Merve with a well earned Bronze.

Others who swam well were Felicity Pattinson and Evelyn Kinnear who gained lots of experience from this most gruelling of all races and who went home proud of themselves.

Also came the news that four of Kendal’s swimmers have been selected to represent Cumbria A.S.A. in the National Team Championships Gala to be held in the National Pool at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

They are James Escolme, Mathew Foster, Mathew Gibson and Molly Moran, just reward for their performances earlier this year.