Top Boy Joshua leads the way as Halton hit fantastic form at meet

HALTON Swimming Club had a number of representatives at the Prescot and Everton meet held at Knowsley Leisure & Culture Park – and they enjoyed tremendous success returning with a plethora of medals and new best times.

Leading the way was 14-year-old Joshua HowardHughes who performed brilliantly finishing as Top Boy over the weekend.

Joshua collected eight gold medals, his wins coming in the 200m and 400m individual medley, 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, 200m backstroke, 50m butterfly and the 50m freestyle.

The youngster added to his medal tally by securing a silver in the 200m freestyle.

Fellow 14-year-olds Claudio Mecklenbergh and Mackinlay Houghton were also in the medals.

Claudio bagged a bronze medal in the 50m butterfly and Mackinlay the silver.

Mackinlay also won a silver in the 50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and 200m backstroke.

Thirteen-year-old Leah Galligan struck gold in the 50m butterfly and won a silver in the 400m freestyle in a new personal best time. Leah also won bronze medals in the 400m individual medley and 100m freestyle and also finished in the 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle.

Eleven-year-old Beth Howard-Hughes collected a number of medals.

She was first in the 400m individual medley, second in the 50m butterfly and 400m freestyle and third in the 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle. Beth also produced a couple of new personal best times.

Sixteen-year-old Alexander Houghton won a gold medal in the 100m butterfly and a silver medal in the 400m individual medley.

Twelve-year-old Sam Shurie won a silver medal in the 50m butterfly and three bronze medals in the 200m individual medley, 100m breaststroke and 50m backstroke.

Joel Sumner had a great first individual meet finishing in second place in the 50m and 100m freestyle and 50m backstroke. He was also third in the 100m backstroke.

Fifteen-year-old Lucy Harris competed in the 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke whilst teammate Libby Harrison collected a gold medal in the 200m breaststroke, a silver in the 100m breaststroke, and bronze in the 50m breaststroke, 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke.

Eleven-year-old sisters, Gabriella and Francesca Houghton both competed over the weekend in the 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m and 100m breaststroke, 50m and 100m butterfly and 50m backstroke.

Gabriella struck gold in the 100m butterfly knocking off more than 10 seconds off her previous best time.

Ruby Pritchard, 11, clocked a new personal best time in the 100m breaststroke. Ruby also competed in the 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke.

Hannah Forsyth claimed a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke in a new personal best time and also competed in the 100m backstroke finishing in sixth place.

The youngest female member of the squad, 10-yearold Natasha Molyneux, competed in the 50m and 100m backstroke where she claimed bronze medals and the 100m breaststroke where she came home in fourth place.

Ben Campbell and Joe Barlow, both aged 10 competed in the 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle respectively.

Ben finished in sixth place with Joe coming home in fourth place in a new personal best time.