NORTHWICH swimmers move to a new home this week boosted by being the highest-ranked team in this year’s Sputnik series.

They collected the Top Club prize, holding off a challenge from hosts Satellites, following four rounds of competition at the Macclesfield venue in recent months.

It is a first trophy to take with them from the pool at Moss Farm to a new one Memorial Court, which opens this weekend.

“This is about swimmers, not their trainers,” said Philip Balcombe, head coach at Northwich Amateur Swimming Club since the turn of the year.

“They worked hard during training, and I’ve seen some great improvement in race technique and speed since I came here.

“Those swimmers worked hard in many close individual races to prove they have potential.

“I came [to Northwich] from Satellites, so know they have some talented athletes that I used to coach.”

Four Northwich swimmers won races during the campaign, which offers less experienced boys and girls a chance to compete in a less formal environment than they county championships.

They are: Eleanor Ma (under 8s girls), Daniel Skae (under 12s boys), Rachel Hamman (under 14s girls) and Josh Williams (under 14s boys).

Jacob Hamman (under 10s boys), Annelies Fien (under 11s girls) and Charlie Dexter (under 14s boys) won silver gongs.

Bronze medals went to Cameron Hand (under 8s boys) and George Scurry (under 9s boys).

Megan Riley received the Top Girl prize in the under 9s category as a reward for her performances in the pool over the four galas.

Balcombe said: “There is a good atmosphere at training and at competitions.

“The swimmers cheer each other on, and officials at the galas have commented on how polite they are.”