Second helpings were served by the plateful to young Ealing swimmers in the Milton Keynes Junior League, held at Barnet Copthall last week.

The club’s nine to 12-year-olds claimed 16 second places as they battled 2014 national champions Guildford. Needless to say, the Gurnell Leisure Centre club finished second team as well.

However, there were triumphs for nine-year-old Abdel Hadjazi as the Ealing swimmer won both the 25m freestyle and backstroke in style.

Go! Swimmers hit the water

Ten-year-old Rex Booth was another double winner taking honours in 25m fly and 50m freestyle. Also, in the same age group, Christopher Garcia added another first place in 50m breast. Jason Mahmutogli, 11, put in a strong team performance to win 50m fly.

Among the runners-up, Katherine Jansen, Emily Leonard, Evangeline Rudakevich and Hannah Whiley took second in both the freestyle and medley relays.

Booth, Yuriy Borak, Christopher Garcia and Rigas Lambakis, 10, were second in the freestyle relay, the 10 year-old girls, Eleanor Bowden, Agnes Vanlanschot, Leah Whitaker, Lucy Lennon, earned runner-up in the medley relay with Agnes and Leah adding further place finishes in 50m breast and freestyle.

The future: Gurnell Leisure Centre, home of Ealing SC

Young Mahmutogli and Pietro Lombardo, 12, both swam personal bests times to take second in 50m freestyle and breast.

Third places were claimed by the nine-year old boys medley team, Lambakis, 50m back, Max and Lombardo, 50m breast, 50 back respectively, 10,11 and 12 year-old girls freestyle relays, 12 year-old girls medley relay, Maya Johnson 50m free and Lara Klovenkloglu, 50m fly.

ESC’s Junior Head Coach Helen Thornton reckoned her kids hit the ground running.

She added: “It’s our best first round performance for a number of years, despite missing a few swimmers we competed and raced hard, with some as young as eight years old racing for the first time.”