Beth is 14th best swimmer in country

Swimmer Beth Hartwell

Swimmer Beth Hartwell is the 14th best freestyler in the country over 100m for her age group.

Beth, 11, from Norden, is in Year 7 at Haslingden High School and swims for Pioneer 79, which meets at Accrington Academy.

She said: “I was in a competition in Wigan against swimmers from all over the North West; they were from Cumbria, Lancashire and Liverpool.

“I got picked because I had done well at a gala at 100m.

“In Wigan I came second and I swam the 100m in a time of 1min 5secs which means I am the 14th best in the country. I am really pleased about it.”

Beth is dedicated to her sport getting up at 4am in order to attend swimming lessons at 5.30am six days a week.

“I learnt to swim when I was about five and have been competitively swimming since I was nine,” she said.

“Because I got such a good time at the Wigan competition, I now go through to the regional final at the Manchester Aquatic Centre.”