SAM RUSSELL was the leading 11-year-old boy in the whole of north east England at the end of the Amateur Swimming Association Regional Long Course Age Group Championships.

The York City Baths Club youngster’s personal achievement was a final or top-ten place in every event in which he competed.

Russell finished with gold medals in the 400 metres individual medley and 200m butterfly, silver medals in the 200m IM, 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 200m backstroke, and a fourth place in the 100m breaststroke.

He also improved his personal best with every swim.

The club’s other medallists were 14- year-old Annie Johnston, with golds in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events and the 200m IM, 13-year-old Freya Beck, with gold in the 200m backstroke, silver in the 800m freestyle and bronze in the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke events, and 12- year-old Katarina Bonner, with bronze in the 200m breaststroke.

Johnston and Beck also gained national qualifying entries for later this year, in the 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle respectively.

A total of six golds, five silver and three bronze medals placed York City sixth in the medals table, and was a very laudable effort from the 12-strong team.

North East Region debutants, Neola Thorpe and James Jeal, both ten, continued to show their determination to perform at this higher level, building on recent county success.

Thorpe was placed seventh overall in her age group for both the 100m breaststroke and 200m IM, while Jeal was eighth in his age group for the 200m backstroke.

The York City team as a whole had competitors in 31 finals. In addition to the medallists, finalists included Lucy Nicholson, Carrie Suddes, Olivia Garnett and Ellen Suddes, while 11-yearold Genna Suddes and 12- year-old Sam Whittaker also gained qualification to swim at these championships.

Virtually all of the York swimmers came away with personal bests or medals to show for their endeavour.