HELENSBURGH Amateur Swimming Club’s swimmers were out in force recently at the 2015 West District Sprint and Relay Championship at the Citadel Sports Centre in Ayr.

In what was a great start to the season the swimmers performed very well over the two days but for Kate Storey and Catriona Stewart the event was particularly memorable.

For Catriona it marked her debut competing at regional level. Having just turned 10 in August, Catriona had already performed well to qualify for the event. Swimming 50m breaststroke in the age 10-12 age group against many swimmers much older than her she managed to knock almost one second off of her previous personal best finishing 34th overall.

Kate Storey continued to perform very well and secured her first West District gold medal. Kate, swimming in the 15-16 age group was first in the heats for the 50m breaststroke which secured her a place in the final which she also won securing the gold medal and a personal best.

Kate also picked up a silver medal in the 15-16 age group 100m individual medley. Having been third in the heats, Kate secured a place in the final and stormed home to finish second. In the process she also broke the club record which she had set in June 2014.

She also swam in the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke finishing seventh overall in both races and securing a personal best time in the backstroke.

Charlotte Caskie performed well over the weekend. Having qualified for four events Charlotte swam in the age 13-14 age group in the 50m breaststroke, 100m individual medley, 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly achieving a personal best in the latter event.

Alexander Johnson also competed in the 13-14 age group. He swam in five events, 50m breaststroke, 100m individual medley, 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle achieving personal bests in four of his five events.

Gail Craig and Alexandra Macfarlane competed in the 15-16 age group.

Gail swam in the 100m individual medley, 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle swimming all three races close to her previous personal best times.

Alexandra swam in the 100m individual medley, 50m backstroke and 50m breaststroke achieving a very respectable 1.51 second personal best in the latter.

Robert Humphries and Jake Miller also competed in the 15-16 age group with both swimming the 50m breaststroke, 100m individual medley, 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly with Jake also swimming the 50m freestyle.

Both boys swam very well and close to previous personal best times with Robert achieving a personal best in the 50m butterfly and Jake personal best times in the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle.

Jon Law competed in five events in the 17 and over age group.

He swam in the 50m breaststroke, 100m individual medley, 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle.

John swam four of the races close to his previous personal best times and achieved a personal best in the 50m butterfly.