York City Baths Club competitors have proved they are the top independent swimming club in Yorkshire.

Their superb performances at the three Yorkshire Age Group Championship meetings this year have shown an overall improvement of 10.5 per cent on last year's results

The haul of five individual gold, one silver and three bronze medals at the third and final of the Yorkshire Age Group Championships, which were held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, gave the York club a grand total of 29 individual gold, 16 silver and 17 bronze medals from the three championships.

York also had eight other finalists in the final gala at Sheffield and achieved 29 other personal best performances.

And in the team events at Sheffield, the York club's swimmers reached 14 finals, winning two silver and two bronze medals.

Alice Sunderland, 12 years, took gold in both the 100 metres butterfly and the 400m freestyle at Sheffield.

Hannah Petts, 11 years, picked up gold in the 200m breaststroke and bronze in the 400m freestyle.

Philip Graves, 13 years, took gold in the 1,500m freestyle for his first national age group qualifying time. He also collected bronze in the 50m freestyle.

Rachel Eastaugh, 11 years, won gold in the 100m backstroke, while Sophie Calpin, 12 years, won silver in the 100m butterfly, and Andy Fowler, 14 years, took bronze in the 200m breaststroke.

York City Baths Club's other finalists included: Sophie Glasby, Andrew Burns, Rachel Eastaugh, Sophie Calpin, Hannah Petts, Andy Fowler and Matt Reed.

Other York swimmers who achieved personal best performances were: Georgia Mellors, Fiona Siddall, Katie Feehan, Lucy Recchia, Becci Jenkins, Alex Fowler and David Recchia.

The 12-year-old girls' team of Becci Jenkins, Michelle Moffatt, Sophie Calpin and Alice Sunderland took silver in the medley team and bronze in the freestyle team.

The 13-year-old boys' team of Luke Hutchinson, Chris Holmes, Matt Reed and Philip Graves won silver in the freestyle team and bronze in the medley team.

In the British Age Group Category Awards for top boy and top girl at each age level, York had excellent results.

The nine-year-old top boy award went to newcomer Andrew Burns, who finished with one silver and four bronze medals.

In the girls' 11-year-old age group, Hannah Petts won 11 golds, one silver and two bronze medals as she collected the top girl award.

Rachel Eastaugh took second place with a total of three gold, six silver and two bronze medals.

In the 12-year-old age group, Alice Sunderland took top girl with nine gold and two silver medals, while Sophie Calpin came second with three gold, two silver and one bronze medal.

In the 13 years top boy awards, Phil Graves came second with two gold and two bronze medals.

Other medal tallies included: Sophie Glasby (10 years) one gold, one silver and one bronze; Andy Fowler (14 years) one silver and three bronze; Michelle Moffatt (12 years) one silver and one bronze.

Updated: 11:03 Friday, April 18, 2003