IT was standing room only at the John Charles Centre for sport last weekend as Skipton swimmers made an impressive start to the Yorkshire Championships.

Over the two days, 16 swimmers aged between nine and 12 competed in a total of 77 races and between them clocked up 25 top ten finalist places including a first and second place.

The finalists included Paige Fenton, Jack Jenkinson, Will Oliver, Harvey Pennington, Rohan Smith, Sean Smith and Madison Turner.

Most memorable performances of the weekend came from young Jack Jenkinson aged ten who claimed the silver medal in the 100m freestyle event with a time of 1.13.09 seconds and 11-year-old Rohan Smith who won gold in the 50m breaststroke event with a time of 38.75 seconds.

Jenkinson had an impressive weekend, he swam eight races, and gained eight personal bests as he made six finals. In addition to his silver medal, he came eighth in the 50m butterfly, sixth in the 100m breaststroke, and fifth in the 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle.

Madison Turner aged 12 qualified for four events and swam well all weekend. She achieved a personal beat and came sixth in the 100m backstroke.

Twelve-year-old Paige Fenton had a successful weekend too. She qualified for eight events, achieved six personal best times and made three finals.

She came sixth in the 50m breaststroke, ninth in the 50m backstroke and 10th in the 50m freestyle.

Harvey Pennington aged 11 also had a good weekend achieving new personal best times in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke and 200m individual medley. He also came ninth and gained a personal best in the 100m freestyle event.

Several of the younger Skipton swimmers made their debut at a Yorkshire Championships and achieved new personal bests and gained valuable experience competing at county level.

Ten-year-old Maisie Longthorne achieved a personal best of 47.38 seconds in the 50m breaststroke and a personal best of 1.47.48 seconds in the 100m breaststroke.

Fenton aged ten got a personal best in the 50m butterfly and a personal best in the 100m backstroke at her first Yorkshires. Nine-year-old Fennella Turner enjoyed her first Yorkshire competition. She qualified for seven events and achieved 11th place and a new personal best in the 50m butterfly race. Charlotte Leigh swam the 00m breaststroke in a best time of 1.28.12 seconds.

The club hope to continue their success this weekend when the older squad swimmers travel to Leeds to compete in the second weekend of the Yorkshire Championships.