Ealing Swimming Club hit the water thrashing to score a fine second in their first match of the season - less than two weeks after returning to the pool.

The Perivale club are made of strong stuff and grit and determination filtered all the way down to their nine-year-olds at Guildford.

The host club won the Milton Keynes Junior League, but Ealing still finished fifth as youngsters rediscovered swimming legs.

Rex Booth, 10, triumphed in both his individual efforts, teaming up with Yuriy Borak, Christopher Garcia, and Rigas Lambakis to take second in the 4x25m freestyle, before adding more valuable points for third in the 4x25m medley relay.

Wat-er result! Maya Johnson and Pietro Lombardo with ESC's trophy

Another 10 year old, Leah Whitaker, took maximum points in the 50m freestyle and earned second in the 50m fly.

Jason Mahmutogli, 11, started the new season where he left off by winning the 50m backstroke, second in the 50m freestyle and with Ben Adams, Leo Djanoff, and Callum Larkham took third in the 4x25m freestyle relay.

There was a silver lining for Emily Leonard, nine, 25m breast, Garcia, 50m breast, and 11-year old Max Lombardo, 50m breast. Third places went to Lucy Kingsmill, 9, 25m fly, who teamed up with Evangeline Rudakevich, Leonard and Katherine Jansen to take third in the medley team.

The freestylers touched for third with Tia Cook replacing Lucy. Other thirds went to 3rd place finishes went to Lambakis, 50m back, and Agnes Vanlanschot, 50m breast, plus 12-year old Pietro Lombardo, 50m breast.

ESC’s junior head coach, Helen Thornton recognised the hard graft by her youngsters.

“This is always a tough round for us, we’ve only been back in training for less than two weeks so many of this team are not on top form,” she said.

“Yet everyone came and gave it their best effort for fifth in this strong league, and against some of the best junior swimmers in the south of England is no mean feat.”