THERE was plenty of splashing action at the Park Leisure Centre, as teams battled it out in the Barrow Schools Swimming Championships.

Teams from 18 South Cumbrian primary schools competed in the pool, as children teamed up in relay competition.

Years 3/4 and Years 5/6 quartets in freestyle and medley – consisting of backstroke, breaststroke and two freestyle legs – races dived into action, with each team including at least one boy and one girl in their line-up.

The fastest six teams in the freestyle event made it through to the final.

In Years 3/4, Chetwynde came out on top, followed by Holy Family, Low Furness, George Romney, Penny Bridge and Sir John Barrow.

Chetwynde were again the quickest in Years 5/6, beating off competition from St Columba’s, Low Furness, Dane Ghyll, Sir John Barrow and Newbarns.

Furness school games organiser Oliver Carswell was pleased with how his first running of the event went, and said: “This is the first time I have ever put a swimming gala together, and if it wasn’t for Manny Boyd, the competition would not have run as well as it did. He was a massive help both before and during the competition, so a big thank you goes to him.

“A thank you also goes to the staff at the leisure centre, who set everything up for arrival and who were very helpful throughout the morning.”

After the speed with which the competition went, Carswell is already looking at plans to expand the race list for next year’s competition, with the possibility of individual events and relays split between club and non-club swimmers.

He added: “I had no idea how long the competition would last, and was very surprised we were able to get through it in just over an hour.

“It opens things up for next year for an individual competition for club swimmers and the team relays for the schools with no club swimmers.

“Hopefully, that will make the competition a bit more even. For example, in the medley relay the difference between first and last was one minute and 44 seconds. With the tiered competition idea, it should give the swimmers the correct level of competition.”