GOLD was struck in stirring measure by Pocklington Dolphins Swimming Club star Hannah Stanton.

The Millington-based swimmer won a drama-drenched share of the county crown in the Yorkshire Swimming Association Swimming championships held at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge pool.

Nine-year-old Stanton competed in the 50 metres backstroke and was placed seventh in the heat where she recorded a personal best time of 42.32 seconds – Pocklington Dolphins’ under-ten record – as well as earning a place in the final among the rest of the county’s elite swimmers.

Though seventh, her time was a mere fraction adrift of a top three position so there was all to aim for in the final – and so it proved.

Swimming from lane one, she got off to a fabulous start which was testament to her efforts in training under the astute guidance of coaches Paul Hopwood and Alan Kendra.

After 12.5 meters the Dolphins star was just leading the field and continuing along the course, hotly pursued by Linden Dawson of the City of Sheffield club.

The race developed into a neck and neck duel and by the finish it was too close to call to the naked eye.

The scoreboard showed the rivals awarded joint first place with a fantastic time of 41.82 seconds, a new pb for Stanton.

Such was the quality of the contest that the other six swimmers were within eight-tenths of the winning time.