TIGERSHARKS’ young swimmers proved the dominant force at the Wilts Distance Championships at Bath University.

In the girls 800m event, the club’s competitors won six of the nine age groups and placed in the top two in seven events.

Tigersharks got off to a stunning start when 10-year-old Polly Painter touched home in 10:55.83, three seconds inside the 11-year-old regional qualifying time.

In the 11-year-old age group, Georgina Hall clocked 10:32.20 to win gold while teammate Octavia Durrant took bronze in 10:47.64, also an RQT.

Jasmin Poole, 12, grabbed top spot with a super swim of 10:26.50 which gave her an RQT, while Abigail Cook, Abbie Crook and Hannah Mclean also produced huge personal bests.

In the 13-year-old age group, Rebecca Maddocks had to give way to Bradford on Avon’s Megan Reckless but still easily took silver in 10:26.04.

Rebecca Cook cruised to gold in an RQT of 9:56.75 in the 14-year-old section, while Bethany Wakefield scooped silver with ease and Amber Davies and Jessica Davies set new PBs.

In the boys’ 1500m event, Tigersharks youngsters were equally impresisve.

Eleven-year-old Luke Morgan stormed to 20:23.06, a time which would have earned him silver medal in the 12 and 13-year-old age groups.

William Davies won a titanic battle with Otis Newbury to triumph in 21:31.82 in his heat.

The clear winner in the 14-year-old age group was Sean Purvis, who posted an RQT of 18:17.61 and also snatched junior championship bronze.

Benjamin Edwards (15-year-old age group), Jake Hancock (16-year-old age group) and Tom Howitt (17/18-year-old age group) all swam superbly to take silver in their respective categories, with the latter winning bronze in the championship.

n FORMER Tigersharks swimmer and 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jazz Carlin is to return to the Link Centre on Sunday morning.

She will lead a masterclass alongside fellow GB international Lewis Coleman as the pool celebrates its re-opening to the general public on Monday following repairs.