WINSFORD Swim Team members, most of them making their debut, were medal-winners at the ASA North West Region Open Water Festival on Sunday.

Four of their seven swimmers claimed a regional title at Salford Quays.

Of those, teenagers Alissa Blackshaw and Becky Alderman reached a qualifying standard for the national open water championships later this year.

“What pleased me most was the attitude of all our swimmers,” said head coach Dan Goodwin.

“They were willing to battle hard in an environment that is still very new to most of them.

“It’s an experience that will make each and every one of them stronger – they’re learning all of the time, which is what great swimmers do.”

Blackshaw won gold in the under 13s girls’ category, raced over 1,500m, to claim a county and regional title.

Jay Cushen, among under 12s boys, and Alisha Hawkins (under 14s girls) also celebrated double success.

Alderman finished first too after contesting a 5,000m race for under 18s girls.

Winsford’s Dan Hulme claimed silver in the under 13s boys’ category for Cheshire and the North West, while clubmate Henry Oliver was third in the county rankings for the same age group.

James Adamson, 13, competed too.

Goodwin said: “Five of our swimmers hadn’t raced in open water before, but it didn’t phase them at all – they enjoyed it.

“We have some superb distance athletes at Winsford, and I’m sure we’ll have even more of them taking part in next year’s edition.”

Cushen, Hulme, Henry and Blackshaw had already made the grade for the ASA Open Water National Championships at Rother Valley, meaning Winsford’s contingent at the August event will be six-strong.

The club sent 23 swimmers to City of Liverpool’s Long Course Summer Sprint meet at the weekend, and they returned with 32 medals between them.

Goodwin said: “Long course meets aren’t run often, so it was important our younger members took the opportunity.”