BARNSLEY swimmers made a splash in the second leg of three at the Yorkshire SA Championships in Leeds. As well as talented youngster Blake Bennett, the Borough of Barnsley Swimming Club also had plenty to cheer.

Ten-year-old Blake, from Redbrook, scooped gold in the 400 IM; bronze in the 200m backstroke; gold in the 200m freestyle and gold in the 200m breaststroke. That takes his impressive record so far in this competition to six golds and one bronze following the three gold medals that he picked up at the first stage held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. Blake also managed to pb in all his events and he is well on schedule to achieving another five national times by the June 15.

Meanwhile, the Borough of Barnsley Swimming Club also has a Yorkshire Champion to be proud of. Nine-year-old Claire Berry, who lives in Wakefield, swam to gold in the 200m backstroke. She also qualified for the 200m freestyle final. Also, club veteran Brindley Turner, aged 13, followed up her excellent silver at the Senior/Junior Championships with a bronze in the 100m backstroke, also qualifying for the final of the 200m backstroke.

The club are particularly proud of Brindley as she has just returned from Spain having been selected to attend a Yorkshire Association training camp over half-term. Nine-year-old James Hook from Dodworth just missed out on the medals finishing a brilliant fourth in both the 200m freestyle and the 200m backstroke. The following swimmers also represented the club and swam well at the Championships: Alanah Hill, Natasha Davies, Caitlin Turner, Daniel Higgins, Liam Exley, Ben Hunter, Harry Mayes and Thomas Speed.