IN the Gala Amateur Swimming Club calendar, November means only one thing - Club Championship.

Many of last year's champions had the chance to retain their titles while new contenders looked to take their place at the top of the podium.

Run over the first three Monday club nights in November, the usual training sessions are replaced by the Gala ASC Championship rounds.

Medals and points are on offer after each round and with some great swimming on show the large and vocal band of spectators were kept entertained. November 7 saw the Butterfly and IM rounds, the following week was the Breaststroke and Backstroke.

As with previous years and with many of the age groups still hanging in the balance it all went down to the wire on the final event on the third Monday, which was the Freestyle and ultimate decider on who would be crowned Club Champion.

With the Freestyle event over the club attempted the Mannequin Challenge comprising of over 50 swimmers, 40 spectators, pool staff, officials and parent helpers.

And after few minutes to sort it out silence fell on what had been a very noisy pool to pull the challenge off with fantastic success.

The evening was rounded off in superb style with “The Championship Relay”, which was introduced last year when the family of the late Ronnie Ballantyne donated a trophy that a combination of Champions and younger swimmers compete in a one off, winner takes all relay event.

Again this went down to the wire in a frantic last length spectacle.

The Championship Relay winning team was Ella Mundell, Peter Forrest, Laura Frizzel, Jack McDonald and Lizzie Clelland.

The newly crowned 2016 Club Champions were:

Girls 8 and under - Holly D’Agrosa,

Girls 10 and under - Lucy D’Agrosa,

Boys 10 and under - Archie MacDonell,

Girls 12 and under - Laura Frizzel,

Boys 12 and under - Ciaran Corcoran,

Girls 14 and under - Elsbeth Roper,

Boys 14 and under - William Taylor,

Women’s 15 and over - Lizzie Clelland,

Men's 15 and over - Andrew Watt.

The Championship Raffle was also drawn with some fantastic prizes being won. This would not have been possible without the sterling efforts of Ronnie Frizzel, Stevie and Maureen Brown not to mention all the sponsors of the various prizes.

Gala ASC would like to thank all parent helpers, volunteers, coaches and pool staff for all their help over the three Championship nights.

Without them such an event could not be held.