Brother and sister have golden touch

1:29pm Monday 28th January 2008

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City of Bradford siblings Lauren and Lewis Sharp won four gold and three silver medals between them in the B-Grade meet hosted by City of Leeds at the new John Charles Centre for Sport.

Lauren took gold in the 200 metres backstroke and freestyle events in the girls' 11/12 years age group, while brother Lewis topped the 15 years-and-over podium in the 100m and 200m freestyle.

Silver medals came in the 200m individual medley for Lauren and the 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley for Lewis.

There was also a double first for 14-year-old Melissa Speight in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, with the club's tally of gold medals being completed by Imogen Talbot in the girls' 11/12 years 100m breaststroke and Michael Bonson in the 15 years-and-over 200m butterfly.

Silver medals were awarded to Nicole Fordham (11/12 years 100m butterfly), Jamie Brown (13/14 years 100m butterfly) and, in the 15 years-and-over age group, to Kirsty Mann (200m individual medley) and Bonson (100m breaststroke).

Lydia Biddiscombe, aged 12, came home with two bronze medals in the 200m individual medley and 200m freestyle and also beat the qualification time for her events in the 100m freestyle and 200m backstroke.

Biddiscombe and Lewis Sharp won their respective knockout skinz events as well, while fellow junior development squad member Joshua Zenner beat the qualification time in the 50m backstroke, freestyle and butterfly.

Meanwhile, James and Lorna Dawson of Skipton travelled to Ponds Forge in Sheffield for the Rotherham Metro 50m A/B Grade meet to try and gain qualification times for the Welsh National Championships in March.

James, 12, swam personal-best times in all his events and gained A-Grade qualification tickets in the 200m breaststroke, freestyle and backstroke. He was also first in the A-Grade 100m freestyle.

Older sister Lorna, 16, swam to a gold medal and personal best in the A-Grade 100m breaststroke and a silver medal in the 200m event.

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