WANGARATTA Amateur Swimming Club cemented its position as one of the top clubs in the region at the Ovens and Murray Swimming Championships, held at the Albury Swim Centre on the weekend.

Fourteen clubs from the Ovens and Murray District competed at the two–day meet, where the Wangaratta Amateur Swimming Club finished in fourth place overall behind the O&M's biggest clubs North Albury, Albury and Wodonga City swim clubs.

A crop of 28 Wangaratta amateur swimmers competed in 177 swims, and achieved 104 top eight finalist places.

Eleven Wangaratta amateur competitors won medals, including:

– Aidan Thomson won gold in the 100m butterfly, 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke, as well as silver in the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle;

– Dylan Dickson won gold medals in the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly, plus silver in the 50m breaststroke and 50m backstroke;

– Harry Allen won four silver medals in the 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly and 50m breaststroke, and bronze in the 30m butterfly;

– Emily Chandler won silver in the 50m breaststroke and bronze in the 50m freestyle;

– Max Chandler won silver in his 50m breaststroke and bronze in the 50m butterfly;

– Nina Fortaliza won two bronze medals in the 50m and 100m breaststroke;

– Jasmin Thwaites achieved two bronze medals in the 100m backstroke and 400m freestyle;

– Cody Ward took home third in the 50 and 100m breaststroke;

– Ingrid Brettig won bronze in the 50m breaststroke;

– Jemima Pizzini won bronze in the 100m backstroke;

– Harry Chandler won bronze in the 100m butterfly.

All swimmers had a successful weekend with several huge personal best time improvements, including Emma Wyatt in the 50m freestyle, Declan O'Sullivan in the 200m IM, Mackenzie Lawford in the 200m IM and 100m backstroke, Zara Kalish in the 100m freestyle, Spencer Jackson in the 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke, and Kai Guley in the 50m freestyle.

Focus for Wangaratta Amateur Swimming Club now shifts to the upcoming Ovens and Murray Relay championships to be held in Albury on Sunday, February 26, Victorian Open and Age State championships and All Juniors finals in Melbourne in March, and Australian National Championships in April on the Gold Coast.