REDDITCH Swimming Club had a very good year in 2004.

After becoming one of the first two clubs in the county to achieve Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) Swim 21 and Sport England ClubMark accreditation, the club achieved a series of successes.

In team competitions, Redditch again battled with the top clubs in Division One of the Speedo League after promotion in 2003.

But the major success of the year was the victory in the September final of the Nuneaton and District Junior League - which saw Redditch promoted as Division Two champions.

Some marvellous individual performances during the year brought further successes.

The club's swimmers won a total of 45 gold medals at the Worcester County ASA Championships in March.

Five Redditch swimmers competed in the Midland District Youth Championships, where Paul Wilkes won the 200m butterfly in the 19 and over age group.

A further five swimmers qualified for the Midland Age Group Championships, including Dan Ruckwood, who won two district titles.

Dan later went on to compete at his first ASA National Age Group Championships, where he won gold in the 100m backstroke and silver in the 200m backstroke.

Two Redditch swimmers took part in the European Cup and British Open water events in June and Paul Wilkes also competed in the British Olympic Trials.

The club continues to actively take part in various swimming bodies, including the Worcester County ASA and WASP (Worcestershire All Sports Partnership) Swimming Action Group - providing the current chairman of each.

The continuing progression of the club's young swimmers is recognised as an important priority. Two local swimming festivals and and accompanying series of development camps were held in Redditch during the year.

Six Redditch swimmers and two coaches took part in the WASP development camp at Worcester and two swimmers have taken up invitations to train with the City of Birmingham club.

At the end of 2004, the club was honoured to accept an invitation to the ASA's annual Swimtastic awards dinner to be presented with a prestigious award for the top ASA-affiliated club in the national category.

The club's success has continued into 2005 with further successes in the county championships and recognition of their achievements at the annual WASP Sports Awards, where they were named the county's top junior sports club.