ON Fridays, February 17 and 24, swimmers of Barry Amateur Swimming Club took part in the annual Long Distance Postal Swim which is run by the British Long Distance Swimming Association.

Over half of the club took part in this event, which takes place throughout the whole of the country for all swimmers of all ages and abilities.

The aim is to see how far the members can swim in one hour, and the club uses this event as a marker every year to see how they are improving with their stamina and abilities. This year, as in the past, they surpassed themselves, swimming fantastic distances for such young swimmers.

The club also decided to use this event to raise much-needed funds for the Breast Cancer Unit at Llandough Hospital with the ‘Lengths4Life’ event.

14-year-old Georgia Looker, who has swum this event every year since it started in 2008, swam a fantastic 161 lengths of the Barry Leisure Centre swimming pool which is a distance of 4025m. She swam the greatest distance of any swimmer this year in the club.

Swimming the event for the first time having only joined the club a month ago, the youngest swimmer Kate Parry, who is only seven, swam a distance of 1075m which is 47 lengths of the pool.

Ellie Ingram, aged eight, swam 2425m which was a massive improvement from last year by 525 meters which is 19 lengths more than last year.

Nine-year-old Caitlin Williams, swimming the event for the first time having not long joined the club, swam 2050m which is 83 lengths.

Rosa Bertini, nine, swam this event for the second time and with a distance of 2425m improved her distance by a massive 26 lengths.

11-year-old Mollie Hopkins completed a 2650m which is 106 lengths. First-timer Millie Wiggins, 10, swam 2800m which is 112 lengths.

Having a fantastic swim was Ruby Davies, 10, who improved her distance by 925m swimming 2,975m which is 119 lengths.

Naomi Hills, 11, another new swimmer to the club swam 109 lengths which is 2725m. This is a very good distance for such a new swimmer.

Improving her distance by 20 lengths, 11-year-old Bethan Williams swam 3550m which is 142 lengths. Llinos Goodland, 12, swam 3300m which is 132 lengths and an impressive improvement on last year by 15 lengths.

13-year-old Briana Williams swam 115 lengths which is 2875m, again another swimmer who made an improvement on last year this time by seven lengths.

Swimming 3325m was Ffion Vickers, aged 13, which is 133 lengths, an improvement of 11 lengths. Menna Jones, 14, swam 3025m which is 121 lengths. Olivia Insole, 14, also improved on last year by swimming 3150m.

Swimming the same distance and also beating their siblings were Grace Insole, 11, and Alex Hopkins, 13, who swam 135 lengths which is 3375m. Again both swimmers improved on last year.

The second swimmer to swim all five years in this event was Ffion Goodland, 14, who swam 142 lengths which is 3550m. She improved by four lengths on last year. The first time she swam the event in 2008 she completed 80 lengths so the improvement is vast.

One of the parents took part again this year. Claire Parry, who swims for Cardiff Masters, swam 144 lengths which is 3600m.

Swimming for the first time in the event, Monty Griffiths who is only seven swam a distance of 2100m which is 84 lengths, a very good effort for someone so young.

Ben Curran, eight, swam 1900m and his brother Liam, 11, completed 85 lengths which is 2125m. Louis John, aged nine, competing for the first time like many others managed to swim 1950m.

Ben Wilson, 11, put in a great effort and swam 86 lengths which is 2150m. With a vast improvement on last year Thomas Pugh, nine, swam 98 lengths - 33 more than last year for a distance of 2450m. Iestyn Perkins, nine, swam 2500m which is 100 lengths. Tomas Vass, 10, completed 101 lengths which is a distance of 2525m.

One of the largest improvements on the year was by 10-year-old Jacob Davies who swam 2800m, a fantastic improvement of 875m. Sam Hills, 15, who has only been in the club a few weeks, like his sister put in a very good effort and swam 2600m.

Tom Insole, 9, made an improvement on last year by swimming 2625m. Sam Smith, 11, completed 120 lengths, which is 3000m.

Improving by 18 lengths, 10-year-old Luke Birnage swam 3100m. Jack Parry, 12, and Declan Ewington, 10, both swam 3250m which is 130 lengths, both of the boys improved on their last year's distance.

Ryan Connor, 12, put in a great effort and swam 142 lengths which is 3550m improving by 17 lengths on last year. Ryan was just beaten to the top male swimmer by 12-year-old James Hamer who completed one more length to swim 3575m.

Unfortunately two of the club's swimmers had to drop out during the event. Seven-year-old Ben Ewington who was on for 100 lengths completed 50 in just 30 minutes. Having got very bad cramp and trying to swim on, Jonathan Haggett had to give up with only 15 minutes to go but he had completed 95 lengths.

The club would like to say a big thank you to all who helped during the event and to Sarah Edward for helping to organise the Lengths4life fundraising event and handing out t-shirt and certificates to all the swimmers.

Barry Amateur Swimming Club is always looking for new members. If you would like a trial, telephone Heulwen Cooper on 01446 733784. The club swim at Barry Leisure Centre on Monday, Friday and Sunday and Cardiff International Pool on Monday and Thursday. For more information also look on the Barry Amateur Swimming Club website.