A fantastic year came complete with a final flourish as St Ives Swimming Club starred at a major recent gala.

They captured 71 medals when being the top visiting club for the second successive year in the City of Peterborough Open Meet.

Ciara Taylor was the most prolific St Ives representative on show at the Regional Pool with eight medals – a bumper haul which included two golds.

Cathy Thomson and Michael Lardner both claimed seven medals apiece with Thomson’s collection featuring five golds, while Lardner was victorious in two events.

Amy Coleman, who triumphed in five races, and Mia Woods both added a further six medals to the St Ives tally.

Cecilia Hime, Fran Crocker, Janos Kadar, Evan Taylor, Luke Tunstall, Georgia Newstead, Toby Offord and Tom Davis were other multiple medallists. Tom Lucas, Harper Jackson, Harry Everett, Anna Freeman, Edward Bird and Ciera Norman claimed one medal apiece.

Joshua Marshall, Isabella Marshall, Isabel Sharp, Keira Mavin, Connor Brookes, Elliot Dickson, Oliver Dickson, Lydia Boag-Kwang, Olivia Brown, Libby Woods, Harvey Woods, Isobelle Moore, Maisie Taylor, Charlotte Dodge, Ingrid Flynn, Charlotte Flynn, Alice Turner, Isabel Pond, Grace Iddon, William Clarke, Tiernan Stevenson, Roise Stevenson, Bryn Chapman Strong, Stanley Clark, Harper Jackson, Rosanna Brooke, Millie Taylor, Alfie Everett, Amelia Dunn, Anna Desborough, Ewan Desborough, Connie Newstead, Tom Sprawson, Georgia Sprawson, Joely Griggs, Daniel Moore, Katie Warren and Tom Warren also produced terrific swims.

Fellow St Ives swimmer Betahn Endicott has climbed to fourth in the national rankings for the 100m butterfly at Under 12 Girls level. She produced a terrific performance at the recent Christmas Cracker meet in Biggleswade when triumphing in a time of 1.07.52 – also a new county record.

That victory former part of a hat-trick of gold medals as Endicott also won the 200m butterfly and 100m backstroke. She gained another medal when runner-up in the 100m freestyle.

Ollie Fitt finished sixth in the 100m men’s backstroke final at the Scottish National Short Course Championships. He clocked an excellent time of 55.40 at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.

“It’s been an excellent end to a superb season for St Ives swimmers of all ages,” said delighted head coach Andy Hunter. “We enjoyed lots of success, many medals and well over 1,000 personal bests.”