MAKING A SPLASH: St Ives Swimming Club s promotion to the Milton Keynes and District Junior League s top division saw the club involved in some tough races at the first meeting of the new season. After some keenly-contested events the St Ives youngsters l

MAKING A SPLASH: St Ives Swimming Club's promotion to the Milton Keynes and District Junior League's top division saw the club involved in some tough races at the first meeting of the new season.

After some keenly-contested events the St Ives youngsters left with their heads high as the club gained a valuable fourth place.

The top teams from the division go on to compete at national level - and in this year's first round gala Saints travelled to distant Amersham where they found themselves up against teams from the home pool: Hillingdon, Acton, Newport Pagnell and Windsor

Hillingdon, Windsor and Amersham quickly built a lead over the other clubs but strong performances from St Ives' youngest competitors in the nine and 10-year age groups kept challenges from the Acton and Newport Pagnell swim teams at arms length. Saints finished the gala in a comfortable fourth place after the final canon relay, with Hillingdon as eventual winners.