FURNESS girl Rebecca Lewis (Barrow LDSC) swam a well-paced race to win the arduous Windermere Championship.

She completed the 10.5-mile swim from Lakeside to Waterhead in 4hrs 7min 37sec, finishing over 20 minutes ahead of Dee Llewellyn (Halifax) with Jennifer Clegg (Halifax) third in her first attempt at the lake swim. Bev Thomas (Halifax) took the breaststroke trophy in 8:01:37.

In the men's event there was a close race between Darron Corden (Sandwell LDSC) and Simon Lee (Solent) with Corden just managing to hold his lead to win in 4:21:42 secs, just nine second ahead of Lee. Tom Wilkinson (Scarborough Kingfishers) was third.

In the 5.25-mile Coniston Junior Championship swim Lauren O'Neill (14) (Halifax) swam a well-paced race to win in 2:24:00 with Holly Williams (15) (Halifax) second in 2:26:35 Michelle Sanders (15) (Sherwood S.C.) was third.

n A SQUAD of nine from Troutbeck Bridge Swimming Club travelled to Whitehaven for a graded gala against swimmers from the England and Scotland.

From a total of 36 events Troutbeck swimmers acquitted themselves well with six getting into the top ten.

Jennifer Barrett won the bronze in a tight three-way finish for the 50m butterfly in 42.79. She also had outstanding backstroke and breaststroke but got speeding tickets, her times being outside the upper limit time set for the grade. Her 46.38 for 50m breaststroke brought her a personal best as did her 3:28.99 for 200m freestyle and also gained her qualification for the Cumbria Autumn Galas.

Corrine Bryson clocked 48.8 in thee 50m breaststroke, but was just touched out of the bronze. Bryson had another terrific battle in the 50m freestyle finishing sixth in 38.17.

The nine-year-olds got their first taste of top class competition and came through with flying colours. Lauren Munro Bennett, Zoe Barrett and Mathew Kaye all achieved top places in their age groups.Bennett had the hardest day setting personal bests in six events, covering every stroke from freestyle to individual medley. Her best result came in the 50m butterfly sprint in a time of 54.93.

Barrett had two pbs from her three events and set an excellent time of 57.41 for her 50m breaststroke.

Kaye kept up the momentum with a pb of 49.31 in 50m freestyle.

The 10/11-year group had a tough time but there were pbs for Bethan Thorsby (freestyle and breaststroke) and Rebecca Walton (breaststroke).

Paul Langhorn finished sixth in the 100m freestyle, seventh in backstroke, butterfly and 200 freestyle and ninth in breaststroke. He also collected pbs in five of the events. Sam Kaye was eighth in butterfly and a ninth in backstroke, with pbs in two other events.