THERE was medal joy for Carnegie Swimming Club as they enjoyed a glittering return to national competition.

A total of 15 members, ranging in age from 12-17, and most of whom were competing in a five-day event at such a level for the first time, travelled to Glasgow to compete at the Scottish National Age Group Championships and returned with six medals, three of them gold.

Those were collected by 13-year-old James Kilpatrick, who finished first in the 11-13 years age group 50 metres butterfly, 200m backstroke and 100m butterfly, while he also won 100m backstroke and 200m butterfly silver, and a bronze in the 400m individual medley.

The meet, held for the first time since 2019, also saw a fourth place in the 15 years 200m butterfly for Zara Innes, with Gemma Brown placing seventh, while they reached the 400m individual medley and 100m butterfly finals respectively, where they each finished eighth.

Jaden Chan was also a finalist, placing sixth in the 15 years 50m breaststroke, while the Carnegie team was completed by Hebe Weavers, Iona Kasapidis, Millie Sullivan, Katie Wells, Lexie O'Brien, Nathan Wilson, Calder Murphy, Lewis Muir, Ollie Weavers, Ollie Wishart and Fraser Muir, with the club's head coach, Susan Taylor, delighted with their performances.

More success followed for some of the club's younger swimmers at the Tranent graded gala, held in Prestonpans, with silver medals claimed by Abi Deacon (100m backstroke), Caitlin Adamson (100m breaststroke) and Fraser Muir (100m butterfly).

Abi and Fraser, together with Isla Stewart, Freya Kealing, Georgia Adamson and Lexie O'Brien, all collected an award for having swum "too fast".

The popular Fife leagues also made a return after three years, with younger swimmers participating, and excelling, in the novice league, which was, for many, their first experience of competitive swimming, before some of the club's older, more experienced competitors took to the water in events over 50m, 100m and 200m.

That then led to Carnegie, over the weekend of May 21-22, hosting their first gala for three years.

Aimed at swimmers aged between eight and 14, the popular meet attracted clubs from throughout Fife and East-Central Scotland, and more than 40 members of the home club took part, securing a host of medals and lifetime bests in the process.

In addition, the club was also fortunate to receive a visit from 2014 Commonwealth Games 200m breaststroke winner, Ross Murdoch, as part of the prize for being crowned Scottish Swimming's Club of the Year in 2021.

The University of Stirling star offered members a masterclass in his discipline, as well as a Q&A and autograph-signing session, with Carnegie president Ed O'Brien commenting: "It was a great afternoon. It's been so good for the club this year to have been named as Club of the Year."