The six-day event was staged at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre from December 10-15.

Bendigo East had 20 swimmers qualify for the meet, competing in 63 individual events with 38 personal best times.

Six swimmers made it to finals competing in 13 different finals, with the 12-and-under girls medley team also making it to finals and finishing sixth.

There were 16 district and 18 club records broken.

In most of the finals they were the only country swimmers to qualify swimming against metropolitan and international swimmers.

The team finished with four silver medals and four bronze medals.

Layla Day led the way with silver in the 14 girls 200m backstroke and 100m backstroke and bronze in the 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle.

Cameron Jordan scored a pair of silvers in the under-16 100m and 200m breaststroke, while Emily Kearns got bronze in the 12 girls 100m backstroke.

Club president Phil Downing said the two-week period had been the most successful period in the club’s history and was a credit to the swimmers, the coaching team and to all those who support have supported the club.

“Once again, the great performances were because of the hard work and dedication by the swimmers in the lead up to the event under the expert guidance of coaches Chris Geyer, John Jordan, Anne Sherman Val Campbell and Kate Jordan,” he said.

“The club will now focus its efforts on the Victorian Open Championships to be held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (at the weekend) and the Victorian Country Championships held over the Australia Day weekend in Shepparton.”

Swimmers to compete were Matthew Baxter, Hunter Boswell, Maggie Burke, Layla Day, Ella Downing, Harry Downing, Mila Grant, Veda Haines, Thomas Hawke, Cameron Jordan, James Kealy, Emily Kearns, Nicholas Kearns, Lily-May Kirby, Zalli Lau, Ziggy Lau, Lincoln McKern, Gus Nankervis, Claudia Mountjoy, Varlee Nihill, Kiara Verbeek and Sophie Waller.

The upcoming Victorian Country Championships from January 26 to 28 is the pinnacle long course event for country swimmers on Swimming Victoria’s calendar.

For more information on the Bendigo East Swimming Club, log on to www.bendigoeastswimmingclub.com/