SWIMMERS from York City Baths Club will be flying the flag for the city this weekend when they stage their annual gala in Leeds.

Due to a lack of competitive swimming facilities with adequate spectator provision in York, the club’s Autumn Extravaganza is being held at the John Charles Centre in Leeds.

There were over 2,000 entries this year- which is double the amount for last year’s event held in Hull.

Club chairman Steve Creighton said: “Moving the event from Hull to a bigger pool in Leeds has meant that we can accept more entries as the John Charles Centre is a ten lane pool.

“It’s been great to see entries coming in from clubs as far away as Manchester to the west and Skegness to the south.

“We are also appreciative of the support shown to our gala by other clubs closer to home,” he added.

“There are a significant number of swimmers coming from Tadcaster and Wetherby & Distict as well as Selby.

“It’s a great sign of the level of interest, from children and teenagers, in competitive swimming.”

A total of 22 clubs will be competing at this year’s gala with over 400 swimmers racing in over 2,000 swims.

For eight of the competing swimmers from York City Baths Club, this will be the first time they have been back in competition following a successful summer of swimming on the national stage.

Harry Devlin, 16, Lucy Nicholson, 16, and Marcus Walker, 14, all placed in the top 24 young swimmers in the country and qualified to swim in the British Summer Championships this summer.

Devlin, who travels from his home in Leeds to train with YCBC, won silver medals in both the 100m and 200m breastroke.

Several York City swimmers also qualified for the ASA National Summer Championships after being ranked among the Top 50 swimmers in the country.

Malton schoolboy Jason Robson, 13, won four bronze medals in the 100m breaststroke, 200m and 400m Individual Medley and the 200m butterfly.

Lucy Nicholson also had a successful competition – taking gold in the 800m freestyle and silver in the 400m Individual Medley.

Ella Fisher, 14, and Neola Thorpe, 15, also placed highly in their individual events. Additionally, out of the pool – but still in the water – Jack Pears-Dorland, aged 16, finished 13th in his age group in the 3k event at the ASA National Open Water Championships.

Head coach Josh Spencer, said: “These swimmers have fully committed themselves to the training programme.

“To even qualify for the National Championships was fantastic but to come away with medals and PBs was the icing on the cake. I’m very fortunate to coach such a hardworking and dedicated group of swimmers.”

Spencer added: “I’m looking forward to seeing lots of the York City Baths Club swimmers, from across our training section, in action at our Autumn Extravaganza this coming weekend.

“Some of our youngest swimmers, aged 9, will be competing for the first time.

“It’s really great exposure for them and our older, more experienced, competitive swimmers are fantastic role models who will support them and cheer each other on.”

The event takes place at the Aquatics centre, in the John Charles Centre for Sport on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission for spectators is £6.

Children under 8, accompanied by an adult are admitted free.