DERWENT Valley Swimming Club achieved great success at the Scarborough District Swimming Championships in Hull.

The Derwent Devils squad, coached by Mark Wheatley and based at the Derwent Pool in Norton, sent three representatives to the full day of races attended by the best swimmers in the district.

In one of the final races of the day, 15-year-old Malton School pupil Steph Bramley won the 50-metre freestyle race in a personal best time to take the honour of the fastest female swimmer in the district.

Bramley was competing against girls as old as 18 in the over 15-year-old category.

She followed up with a PB and sixth place in the 100 metres.

In the morning session, 10-year-old Kate Pearson, a pupil at Amotherby Primary School, won her heat in the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke, receiving medals for PB times in both events.

Arthur Rees, of Malton School, had similar success in winning his heats in the freestyle and backstroke races.

He won a medal for his PB in the freestyle and scooped a gold medal for the fastest Category 2 swimmer in his age group at backstroke.

A spokesman said: "The success is testament to the hard work and dedication of the swimmers and the volunteer coaches, who have taught all of these children to swim from a very early age until they progressed into competitive swimming."

Head coach Wheatley said: "There is nothing more satisfying than taking children through the club's nine-stage teaching programme into competitive swimming.

"We pride ourselves on being a community-based teaching club and the hard work is rewarded when we see improvement and development in every child.

"It is not often a small club like ours can boast a district champion, let alone the fastest female swimmer in the district.

"But it just goes to show what this club, now in its sixth decade of teaching and coaching young swimmers, can achieve for the young people of Ryedale.

"We are very proud of Steph, Arthur, Kate and all of our swimmers."

Parent and club member Mark Rees added: "This club is an integral part of our community. The dedication and commitment of the volunteer coaches and assistants never ceases to amaze and inspire me.

"Without people like Mark and all the other committee members at the club, my son would not have the opportunity to swim at a competitive level. This success is just reward for all their efforts."