Bronze finish could lead to national final

SCHOOLS SPORT CATHERINE SMYTH FOUR dedicated swimmers from Haslingden High School are now waiting to see if their bronze medal has earned them a place in a national final.

At the English Schools’ Swimming Association North West Championships held in Everton, they were third in the 4x50m freestyle relay.

The team of 14-yearolds Emily Nuttall, Beth Hartwell and Amy Pedder along with Mia Smith, 13, also competed in the 4x50m relay medley when they narrowly missed out on the bronze medal.

Mia said: “The relays were held in heats and we won ours and then had to wait to see what other times were posted to see where we had come.

“We are now waiting to find out if our time is in the top 30 out of all the different championships that are being held across the country. if it is we will get a place in the national final in November at the Olympic Park in London.”

Mia swims for Stockport Metro, Beth for City of Manchester and Amy and Emily for Pioneer 79 at Accrington.

They all swim at 5am several times a week at pools across Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

Beth swims every Tuesday and Thursday before school and then after school every weekday.

Mia is in the pool before school on a Tuesday and Saturday and every night after school while Amy and Emily both swim six times a week.

Emily said: “There were 17 schools there and a lot are private schools that have their own pool.”

Although all the swimmers have competed in the competition before, this was the first time they had all been together in the same team.