JAY Cushen was a stand-out performer for the North Midlands during a fiercely-competitive Inter Association Meet in Blackpool on Sunday.

He was one of more than a dozen Winsford Swim Team youngsters on representative duty, and marked the occasion by taking gold in the 200m and 100m breaststroke – and 200m butterfly – for his age category.

Four of his teammates celebrated a top-three finish in the water too.

Lottie Howman helped herself to a brace of silver medals, in the 200m butterfly and 200m freestyle, in the under 13s girls’ category.

There were two gongs as well for Abbie Christopherson; silver in the under 14s girls’ 200m butterfly, and a freestyle bronze over the same distance.

Isabel Kay was runner-up in the under 13s girls’ 200m individual medley, while Lewis Turner was third in the same discipline for his age group.

“All of our swimmers did fantastically well,” said Dan Goodwin, head coach at Winsford.

“They accumulated 10 medals between them, and some outstanding personal bests too.

“It was great to see them coming together and competing as a team with rivals from different clubs that they’re used to racing against.”

North Midlands capped a fine day by taking second place in the 8x50m freestyle cannon relay, edged out of top spot by Liverpool & District.

Winsford’s contingent was completed by Charlotte Mullett, Keaton Haydon and Will Line in the under 11s category.

Lily Harwood and Sophie Grindley raced fellow 12-year-olds, while Harvey Zwijnen, Rory Armitt and Thomas Carss were part of a five-strong group of 13-year-olds with Kay and Howman.

Jonny Mullett, Christopherson and Cushen all raced as under 14s.