North Ayrshire’s swimmers enjoyed a lot of success in their latest competition - the Scottish National Age Group Championship.

It’s been a long time coming for these young athletes who had been unable to compete in this competition for three years due to Covid cancellations.

The team of 16 swimmers picked up five medals and a raft of personal best times at this year’s event.

The North Ayrshire club’s biggest haul of medals came courtesy of 14-year-old Lewis Gibson from Kilwinning.

He was crowned the Scottish National Champion in the 400m and 200m freestyle events., and also achieved a silver medal in the 100m free and a bronze in the 200m breaststroke.

Skelmorlie’s Emma Binnie, 13, also had a successful meet with a silver medal in the 800m freestyle and a number of personal best times in a variety of other events.

Competing amongst the best in Scotland, many of North Ayrshire’s other competitors posted some impressive results.

Fraser Cowie, 14, from Dalry, had a fantastic meet clocking up four top 10 finishes in the 100m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 200m backstroke and the 100m butterfly; as well as a host of personal best times.

And Heather Stuart,15, also from Dalry and Adam Currie, 15, from Irvine managed eight top 20 finishes in the 100m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle and the 50m butterfly, 200m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle.

Among the other swimmers celebrating individual success at the national event were Skelmorlie’s Dean Binnie,13, West Kilbride’s Zoe Matchett, 15, Saltcoats’ Rachel McGuire, 16, and Largs’ Kouper Sloss, 12.

The club also put together some successful relay teams with Isla Waller,15, Zoe Matchett, Rachel McGuire and Heather Stuart as well as Adam Currie, Fraser Cowie, Lewis Gibson and Stewart Reid, 15, in the 14-16 year old category.

Emma Binnie, Emily McGuire, 11, Ruby McInnes,11, and Kate Stuart,13, took part in the 11-13 year old girls’ event, and Dean Binnie, Sam Currie, 11, Kyle Saunderson, 12, and Kouper Sloss competed in the 11-13 year old boys’ relay.