It's a high five for star Sian

From the archive, first published Tuesday 5th Dec 2006.

City of Bradford member Sian Morgan showed her class and versatility by lifting five North East Region titles.

Her wins at Harrogate Hydro came in the girls' 12 years 100 metres and 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley.

And all these swims were inside the qualifying time for next year's National Age Group Championships.

In addition, Sian finished in silver-medal position in the 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle and 400m individual medley.

Her time of 4min 29.31sec in the 400m freestyle and 5min 08.49sec in the medley were also both well inside the qualifying times.

National finalist Ben Balm-forth, also from Ilkley, was on top of the rostrum in the boys' 13 years 200m breaststroke and 400m individual medley and in silver-medal position in the 100m breaststroke.

Also showing his versatility, he claimed third place in the 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley, fourth in the 200m butterfly and fifth in the 100m freestyle, dipping under the magical one-minute barrier for only the second time in 59.30sec. Ben rounded off the day with eighth place in the 200m freestyle.

In the BAGCAT (British Age Group Categories) points total for the championship, Sian won the girls' 12 years category while Ben finished third in the boys' 13 years category.

Abigail Smith rounded off City's medal haul with a bronze in the girls' 13 years 100m backstroke and finished fifth in the 200m event while twin sister Rebecca followed close behind in sixth.

Other finalists included 11-year-old James Dawson, who has recently returned to train with Bradford Council's Sport and Leisure Service.

James finished fourth in the 200m breaststroke and backstroke and eighth in the 200m individual medley.

Other finalists were Isaac Ehdieb, sixth in the boys' 12 years 100m freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke, and George Mack, eighth in the boys' 13 years 100m backstroke and 400m individual medley.