WINSFORD’S swimmers collected more medals during the last two days of competition to complete their club’s best haul at the North West Region Summer Championships.

Jay Cushen and Abbie Christopherson delivered gold to put the team fifth in the points table – their highest ever ranking.

That total included 26 gongs overall at age group level.

“It’s why we get out of bed at 4am to get ready for training – for moments like that,” said head coach Dan Goodwin.

“There are plenty of clubs that are bigger than ours, but our swimmers stand out because of the appetite they show for battle.

“Those who win medals or reach a final often get mentioned, but each and every one that represented Winsford contributed to this success.

“That’s the togetherness we have created here now.”

Cushen added to an already-long list of achievements by claiming first place in the under 13s boys’ 200m breaststroke final.

He won four silvers too at Manchester Aquatic Centre last weekend: over 400m and 200m in the individual medley, 50m butterfly and 100m breaststroke.

A bronze in the 200m freestyle completed a fine meet for him.

Christopherson won the under 13s girls’ 400m freestyle, taking third over 200m for the same stroke and in the 100m butterfly final.

Lottie Howman claimed bronze in the under 12s girls’ 400m and 200m freestyle, while Alissa Blackshaw secured a hat-trick of third-place finishes in the under 14s girls’ 400m and 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly.

Ethan Jones was a runner-up in the under 14s boys’ 200m backstroke final, while Ryan Wheeler was third in the 200m freestyle final for the same age category.

Winsford’s combined medals tally from the age group and youth championships is 35, eight more than their haul in 2015.

Goodwin said: “We stood toe to toe with our rivals in every single race – that’s what makes me most happy.

“We were 10th in the club standings a year ago, so to climb to fifth is an incredible achievement.

“Many more Winsford swimmers made a final too.”