North Ayrshire’s swimming champions have been crowned at the club’s annual awards night celebrating a remarkable year of success in the pool.

During 2018 the team doubled their medal haul at the Scottish National Championships, with athletes reaching 28 age group finals.

The club was represented at the prestigious Glasgow International and had five swimmers qualify for races at the British Summer Championships in Sheffield, including Garnock Valley teenagers Rory Dickson and Rachael Grant.

The event held at Saltcoats Town Hall saw the awarding of the trophies for the age group winners at the club championships as well as the individual awards for swimmers selected by the team of coaches.

Head Coach Jess Wilkie commented: “I thoroughly enjoyed my first awards evening with North Ayrshire. It was a fantastic evening and I couldn't believe how great the turnout was - over 200 people! I hope over the next few years the club can really build on that community feel”

Ten young athletes from the area were among with winners including brother and sister Kate and James Stuart from Dalry.

Kate was crowned the 9 year-old girls champion, and her competitive spirit was praised by Junior Coach, Alan Dickson, in his presentation on the night.

“Kate had to put in very strong performances to win this shield,” he commented. “She loves to race and it brings out the best in her.”

Elder brother James was in a close battle for the 11-year-old boys trophy.

“James won by a just a few points and he had to perform strongly in the distance races to hold off his competitors,” observed their coach.

Evie Chan, from Stevenston, won the 8-year-olds prize at a canter. “She secured the prize with a remarkable series of races in the distance element of the championships, winning enough points to make up for not competing in the sprints,” commented Alan Dickson.

2018 saw a record to the number of North Ayrshire swimmers getting talent-spotted by the governing body, Scottish Swimming, for a place on their national development programmes.

Among them was 12-year-old Rachel McGuire from Saltcoats who was selected for the Development Regional Programme.

“Rachel’s very enthusiastic and she loves her sport,” comments Head Coach, Jess Wilkie, who trains the senior squads.

Beth Hill from Ardrossan dominated the 13-year-old category, collecting three times as many points over the two days of competition as her nearest rival.

“Beth is a determined young woman,” says Jess. “She loves racing and is beginning to find the love for training. We still have a lot of work to do and I am really looking forward to seeing what 2019 has in store for Beth”

#Glengarnock’s Angus Dickson spent most of 2018 in the shadow of his younger brother, Rory, who had a brilliant year winning three titles at the Scottish Age Group Championships and rounding off with two junior titles at the Scottish Short Court Championships.

The 17-year-old got his moments in the spotlight at the awards night as he was presented with the over 17’s shield for boys and the land training award.

“He’s a good laugh in training and always works hard,” observes Jess, “so it’s fantastic to see him collecting this prize.”

“Every time Angus comes through the door he’s extremely focussed,” agrees land training coach, Sheena Currie. “His mum often tells me that when he gets home from a session his t-shirt has to be wrung out which shows how hard he’s working.”

Ruby McInnes, from Dalry, who was runner-up in the race for the 8-year-old girls shield was chosen by Alan Dickson as the winner of the Coaches’ Award for the girls in the Development squad, and he paid tribute to her character as he handed over the prize.

“She’s a relentlessly cheerful individual who works so hard and won us loads of points in the mini league and I’m really looking forward to coaching her in the future.”

15-year-old Rachael Grant from Beith was picked by Jess Wilkie as the recipient of the Coaches’ Award for the senior girls. She excelled in the pool and in open water, leading home the field in the annual charity swim between Cumbrae and Largs in the summer.

“Rachael always puts in maximum effort in training and she loves to challenge the boys now and again,” says Jess.

She presented the boys shield to 16-year-old Evan Clark: Evan Clark, saying: “I can’t fault him for his application and effort in training.”

The awards night also honoured the champions in the North Ayrshire Synchro team with Erin Furey, from Barrmill, being named as land training champion by Lead Coach, Emma Miller who told us: “Erin’s been with us from the beginning and is a very diligent athlete who puts in a lot of effort at home as well and has been working very hard on her splits.”

The success of all the swimmers during the year, and the increased profile of the club, has seen membership levels reach a new high, with a boom in the entry-level Development Squad which leads on from the end of the KA Leisure learn to swim programme, as well as the Masters sessions for adult swimmers.

To find out more about the club and details how to get involved see the new website: NorthAyrshireSwimming.com