St Ives swimmers impressed when up against top talent from around the country last weekend.

A 27-strong contingent from the local club took part in the Cambridge Level 2 Grand Prix – managing 18 medals and a host of lifetime bests between them.

James Quinn claimed a hat-trick of breaststroke gold medals in the 13yrs age group as he starred the 50m, 100m and 200m distances. He also collected a bronze medal when facing older opponents in the 200m breaststroke race at 14yrs level.

Janos Kadar also struck gold in the 10yrs bracket with a fine 50m backstroke performance. He went on to bag three other medals (silver in 400m freestyle, bronze in both the 200m individual medley and 200m backstroke) during a memorable meet.

Ciara Taylor earned two silvers and a bronze in different strokes, while Bethan Endicott’s silver and two bronze medals all arrived in 50m butterfly races.

Evan Taylor was another multiple medallist with a trio of third places at 15yrs level and Kiera Mavin scooped a silver in the 200m backstroke for 10yrs girls.

St Ives Swimming Club were also represented by Alice Turner, Amy Coleman, Anna Freeman, Cathy Thomson, Charlotte Flynn, Ciera Norman, Edward Cochrane, Elizabeth Ella, Emily Gallagher, Fran Crocket, Georgia Newstead, Georgia Spencer, Joshua Marshall, Lucy Ella, Luke Tunstall, Mia Woods, Mike Lardner, Sophie Turner, Tiernan Stevenson, Toby Offord and Tom Lucas.

“Everyone involved swam magnificently,” said head coach Andy Hunter. “The vast majority of our entrants achieved personal bests in their first open meet of the season.

“Many of them also achieved regional qualifying times which are very pleasing so early on.”

Simon Bradford picked up a medal in all nine of the events he entered at the Eastern Region Masters Gala last weekend.

Bradford’s bumper haul at Newmarket included gold in the 50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200m men’s freestyle relay and the 200m mixed freestyle relay.

He was also runner-up in the 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle, and took third places in the 50m breaststroke and 100m individual medley.

Bradford used the meet as preparation for the National Masters Championships at the end of October.