ON Saturday, January 21, Barry Amateur Swimming Club welcomed Olympic swimmer David Davies to the annual presentation evening at Barry Island Sports and Social Club, which awards members' achievements in the November Championship.

The swimmers were very excited to see the local champion, as they didn't know he would be attending. He spent time with the members and presented some medals and trophies.

Heulwen Cooper, club chairperson, introduced David and started the presentations with the 8 and under age group.

Rosa Bertini gained first places in the 25m butterfly and 50m backstroke and seconds in the 4x25m IM, 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle.

Ellie Ingram gained firsts in the 4x50m IM, 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle with seconds in the 25m butterfly and 50m backstroke. Ellie also took part in the 200m freestyle, finishing in a very good time of 4m 10s 11.

Caitlin Williams gained 3rd places in all of the five events.

In the boys 8 and under age group Thomas Insole, eight, took firsts in the 25m butterfly, 4x25 IM, 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle and gained second in the 50m breaststroke. He also competed in the 200m competitions, gaining first in backstroke and freestyle with a second place in breaststroke.

Thomas Pugh gained first place in the 50m breaststroke and second in the 4x25m IM with thirds in the 25m butterfly, 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle. Thomas also took first place in the 200m breaststroke.

After presenting the 8 and unders with their trophies and medals, David had to leave. Ellie Ingram presented him with a good luck card and a gift from the club. Heulwen Cooper wished him luck on behalf of the club in the forthcoming Olympic trials, with the hope of seeing him in the 2012 Games.

Senior swimming coach Mike Looker then stepped in to present the medals and trophies.

Next to be awarded were the 9 and 10 year age group.

In the girls, Ffion McCulloch took first in the 50m butterfly, 100m backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle with a second in the 4x25m IM.

Millie Wiggins took first place in the 4x25m IM and second in the 50m butterfly, 100m backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

Molly Hopkins took first in the 200m backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle improving her time in some of them by more than 30 seconds.

In the boys 9 and 10 age group Declan Ewington took first, gaining the trophies in the 50m butterfly, 4x25m IM, 100m backstroke and freestyle and a second place medal in the 100m breaststroke. Declan also took first in the 200m backstroke and freestyle.

Luke Birnage took first place in the 100m breaststroke and gained second in the 4x25m IM, 100m backstroke and freestyle and third in the 50m butterfly. Luke also gained a first place 200m medal in the breaststroke and second in the backstroke and freestyle.

Jacob Davies took 2nd in the 50m butterfly with a third in the 100m freestyle and 4x25m IM.

Bethan Williams in the 11 and 12-year-old girls’ age group took first place in the 100m butterfly and 4x50m IM with second in the 100m backstroke. Bethan also won first in the 200m breaststroke.

Ffion Vickers gained first place trophies in the 100m backstroke and freestyle, with second in the 100m butterfly and 4x50m IM. Ffion also swam in some of the 200m events and took first in the 200m butterfly which is such a long distance to swim, backstroke and freestyle.

Grace Insole gained first in the 100m breaststroke with third in the 4x50m IM and 100m backstroke. Grace also swam in the 200m events gaining second in the backstroke and breaststroke and third in the freestyle.

Ryan Connor had a fantastic championships and took first place in four of the five events except the 100m breaststroke, and also gained first in the 200m backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

Shaun Bowden took first in the 100m breaststroke and second in the 4x50m IM, 100m butterfly, backstroke and freestyle.

Georgia Looker, swimming in the 13-14 year old age group, won all nine events in her age group which is a fantastic achievement as only one other swimmer also achieved this.

Lauren Prynne gained second in the 100m butterfly.

Gaining seconds as well was Ffion Goodland in the 4x50m IM, 100m breaststroke and 200m backstroke.

Swimming well also was Alex Hopkins with second in both the 100 and 200m freestyle events. Olivia insole gained second in the 100m backstroke.

Unfortunately the club do not have any male swimmers in the 13-14 year age group, but hope this will change in 2012.

Swimming in the 15-16 year age group, Alana Wilson gained first in the 4x50m IM, 100m butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle also the 200m backstroke and breaststroke.

Bethan White gained first in the 200m freestyle, for the first time in the club as she has not been a member for long.

In the 15-16 boys age group it was a battle between the two Jonathans.

Jonathan Bowden took first in the 100m butterfly, 4x50m IM, with second in the 100m backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

Jonathan Haggett took first in the 100m backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. He also gained first in the 200m butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

Swimming in the last age group in the ladies Open, Danielle Davis gained first with medals in all nine events; with Alice Lewis taking second in all the events; and Philippa Wheeler gaining a 3rd in the 100m breaststroke.

Again the club had a battle with the boys in the open age group as to who was going to take the winning trophy home.

Michael Crompton gained first in the 4x50m IM, 100m butterfly, backstroke and freestyle. He gained second in the 100m breaststroke.

Ryan Taylor competed in all nine events and gained first in the 100m breaststroke and second in 4x50m IM, and 100m freestyle. Ryan also gained first in all the 200m events. He had such a battle to complete the 200m butterfly but with some help to get out of the pool at the end, he did in a time 3m 21s 12 - an improvement of over 20 seconds.

Heulwen Cooper explained what the special trophies are for, as they are for either improvement in a swimmer or for the hard work and dedication that they give to the club.

The first trophy was ‘Best Runner Up’. This cup is awarded to a girl and boy who has competed in the championships but has not won a first place trophy. This year this went to Amy McAndrew and Ffion Goodland to share for the girls, and Jacob Davies for the boys.

‘Best Newcomer’ trophy is for the girl and boy swimmer who has joined the club in the past year and has reached a good standard in a short time. This year it went to Millie Wiggins and Toby Dalton.

‘The Best Novice Swimmer’ for a girl or boy swimmer who is fairly young but has been with the club for a couple of years, not very good when they joined but has worked hard and improved. This year the trophies went to Llinos Goodland and Iestyn Perkins.

‘Most Improved Swimmer’ trophy goes to the girl or boy who has been in the club a few years but whose competitive ability and performance has improved significantly during the past year. The girls trophy went to Bethan Williams with Ryan Connor for the boys.

A special medal was given to one who swimmer who works very hard in everything that she does but because of her disabilities does not always get the recognition that she deserves.

She gained a first place in the long distance postal swim throughout the whole of Great Britain for her age group and has just improved so much during the past year. This went to Victoria Allen-Curtis.

The club is run by volunteers and takes many people to do this either on poolside or behind the scenes with all paperwork. This takes hard work, dedication and time, so this year's ‘Lady Club Member of the Year’ went to Gemma Ewington for all of the coaching work on poolside.

The ‘Male Club Member of the Year’ went to Paul Buckle for all of his work on poolside and also for the fact that he has stepped into the role of chief coach over the last two years.

‘The Loyalty Cup’ is for either a swimmer or a helper within the club for all the hard work and effort they have put in to the club over the past year. In past years it has gone mainly to an adult helper but this year it went to swimmer Jonathan Haggett for the improvement of his swimming and for all the hard work he does on poolside helping to coach the younger 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.