ONE of Cinderford' s star swimmers, Dean Embling, took part in the ASA Youth National Championships at the Ponds Forge International 50m pool in Sheffield.

Dean (pictured) took part in the 100m breaststroke race and the medley relay, as part of a Gloucester hub team. The hub brought swimmers from different clubs together to compete as one team.

Dean joined Cinderford & District Swimming Club when he was six and just able to swim a width of the pool. To qualify for the National Championships is an outstanding achievement

After completing his individual race, Dean joined William Harrison (Soundwell), Warren Cannon (Cheltenham) and James Dawe (Soundwell) in the men's 4x100m medley relay.

Aiming just to qualify for the final, they were outstanding in the heats and went through as the fourth fastest team.

In the final, William swam the backstroke leg, then Dean produced an outstanding 1:06.52 on the breaststroke leg.

Superb swims from the other two saw them finish a superb fourth against some of the best young swimmers in the country from much larger clubs.