A STACK of medals were won by York City Baths Club swimmers at Middlesbrough Amateur Swimming Club’s Christmas Gala.

Head coach Mark Sheldrick led a squad of 25 up and coming swimmers at the Teesside-based event, with a number of youngsters achieving Yorkshire Championship Qualifying Times.

Medals were awarded to the top six in the nine and ten-year-old age groups and top three in 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15-plus age groups.

Ten-year-old Samuel Pickup maintained his excellent vein of form by taking gold medals in each of his four entered events, including the 400 metres individual medley.

Oliver Creighton, nine, overwhelmed the competition with three gold and three silver medals from his six events.

He also recorded Yorkshire Qualifying Times in the 200m butterfly and individual medley for the Long Course Championships at the end of January.

Ten-year-old Kimberley Thompson secured two gold, two silver and a bronze medal in her entered events and acquired YQTs in 50m butterfly and 200m freestyle.

Jack Pears-Dorland, 14, attained gold, three silvers and a bronze, and impressed with four out of five personal best times, plus a YQT in the 200m butterfly.

Frankie Van Den Heever, 12, built on previous gala successes with three silver and three bronze medals plus YQTs in the 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle events.

Alex Riches rounded off his events with a gold medal and YQT in 100m backstroke.

National Training Squad member Ella Fisher, 12, smashed the YQT needed in the 400m freestyle, taking the gold medal in her age group, while 14-year-old Stafford Swainston got a bronze medal and his YQT in the 400m freestyle.

Debutant Jacob Hardisty, nine, attained YQTs in the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle.