WINSFORD Swim Team members were record breakers even before the first race at the ASA North West Region Championships, which started in Liverpool last weekend.

The club have sent their largest ever entry, made up of 35 swimmers, an increase of eight on a 27-strong contingent for last year’s event.

“We want to go there and perform to a high standard,” said head coach Dan Goodwin.

“The number of our swimmers that have qualified is even more impressive because the admission criteria have changed, so some of them are racing against older rivals.

“It is a proud moment for me to see so many of them representing Winsford.”

The regional championships take place over three weekends, with Manchester Aquatic Centre acting as host for the next two.

They represent a final opportunity for swimmers to qualify for three national meets later this year; the British Summer Championships, the ASA Summer Championships and the ASA Open Water Championships.

In Winsford’s group are two girls, Victoria Cunningham and Alisha Hawkins, who competed at the recent British Championships in London.

Both swam personal bests to improve their national rankings.

Cunningham, a student at Loughborough University, narrowly missed out on a place in the 50m freestyle final after timing 26.09s.

She was 17th overall in the 100m freestyle.

Hawkins, appearing at the annual championships for the first time, contested the under 14s girls’ 400m and 800m freestyle.

She was 16th in the former, clocking 4:35.70.

In the 800m, she ranked inside the top 12 after finishing in 9:27.33.

Goodwin said: “They both swam superbly.

“To qualify for the British Championships is a great achievement, and to come away with such positive results will help with their future development. I hope it spurs on more swimmers to gain qualifying times next year.”