BARRY Beavers returned home with a mammoth medal haul after competing in the Blaenau Gwent Otters gala on Saturday, May 16.

The team competed against seven other Welsh clubs at the Ebbw Vale sports centre to turn out overall winners, finally knocking the Rhondda Polar bears off their top pedestal

Members collected 51 points with 28 swimmers winning 16 medals.

Winners of gold were Natasha Lynch, Philip Daly, Kyle Siirak, and James Jones, silver were Callum and Tyler Savory, Joanna Davies, Courtney Rogers, Ffion Jones, and bronze were Abigail Finch, Jack Kemp, Lucy Lynch, and Sarah Davies.

In the junior relay Talisha Rogers,Tyler Savory, Courtney Rogers, Abigail Finch and also senior relay Philip Daly, Nicky Cushen, Mark Eveleigh and James Jones.

The rest of the team improving their times were Keira Richards, Jack Finch – in his first gala - Helen Lynch, Shannon, and Layla Rogers, Katie Rosser, Will Griffiths, Gareth Lloyd, Matthew Lack, Louis Davies, and Sophie Woodham.

Secretary and coach, Pat Finch said: “I am very proud of all the team. They did Barry well and we were travelling with our patrons Howard and Carol Hamilton who have helped our club get on the map and especially being one of their charities for the last year when they were mayor and mayoress of Vale of Glamorgan.Barry Beavers can't thank and praise them enough.”