A team of young swimmers from Camden Swiss Cottage SC exceeded expectations to finish fourth in the grand final of the Arena Junior Inter-League competition at Corby.

Ham & High: Camden Swiss Cottage captains Ines Guimond Beetham and Leo He with Olympic champion Adam Peaty at the Arena Junior Inter-League finalCamden Swiss Cottage captains Ines Guimond Beetham and Leo He with Olympic champion Adam Peaty at the Arena Junior Inter-League final (Image: Archant)

The event pitted the top eight clubs in England against each other in a fiercely competitive gala, after 200 had participated in the earlier stages.

And it was Camden Swiss Cottage’s first appearance in a grand final, with two of their boys earning excellent wins.

Nicholas Finch won gold in the 11-year-old boys’ 50m butterfly in an impressive 32.90 seconds, while Leo He won the 12-year-old event in 31.10.

Finch added silver in the 50m backstroke in 35.20 and was also awarded the best 11-year-old boy prize, which was presented to him by Olympic and world champion Adam Peaty.

Ham & High: Camden Swiss Cottage's Nicholas Finch receives his best 11-year-old boy trophy at the Arena Junior Inter-League final from Olympic champion Adam PeatyCamden Swiss Cottage's Nicholas Finch receives his best 11-year-old boy trophy at the Arena Junior Inter-League final from Olympic champion Adam Peaty (Image: Archant)

Silver medals were won in the 50m breaststroke by 10-year-old Lucas Bohm (40.60) and 12-year-old Ella McEver (36.46) and Ava Lambropoulos, 10, in the 50m freestyle (32.26).

Bronze medals went to Ryan Van Dyke, nine, and 12-year-old trio Brandon Biss, He and Oliver Wright, while six relay quartets also gained valuable third-place points for the team total.

A strong City of Leeds team were crowned champions with 322 points, ahead of City of Guildford, Stockport Metro and Camden Swiss Cottage, who amassed 211 points.

The whole team also had their photograph taken with Peaty, who presented captains He and Ines Guimond-Beetham with a trophy and medals. Peaty also signed photographs, which will be given to swimmers with certificates to commemorate their achievement.

Lead development coach Michelle McCarthy said: “The whole coaching team could not be happier. It was a fantastic day and our swimmers swam out of their skins to give such a highly polished performance.

“To come in ranked sixth and finish fourth out of 200 teams is a huge achievement and a great indicator of the young talent we have at Camden Swiss Cottage.

“A big thank you also goes to our supporters and officials and helpers without who we wouldn’t be able to compete and who created an amazing atmosphere and team spirit.”

The Arena Junior Inter-League aims to promote inter-club competitions for junior swimmers (9-12 years) to encourage their progression in swimming.