EVERYONE was a winner at the Burnley Aqua Lions gala.

The disability swimming club held the event at St Peter’s Sports Centre and fun was the order of the day.

Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez and the Mayor and Mayoress of Burnley, Coun Tony Lambert and his wife Brenda, were guests of honour.

The competition was funded by Burnley Aquatics Development Group which enabled the Aqua Lions to present trophies to all of the swimmers that took part.

“We didn’t run in like most swimming galas,” said club founder Brian Crossley. “It wasn’t all about winners and losers, it was all about having a bit of fun and helping to raise a bit of self esteem.

“So we presented everyone with a trophy and they loved it. It was as if they had won an Olympic gold medal!”

Crossley, a former coach at Rosegrove Swimming Club, set up the Aqua Lions back in 1991.

It came about during a visit to a swimming club in Holland where Crossley had forged ties during his time at Rosegrove.

“We linked up with a club in the small Dutch town of Bergen Op Zoom and we would regularly travel out to meet them.

“On one occasion, I was asked to present trophies to its disabled swimmers and it really touched me.

“So when I came back to Burnley I looked at ways of setting up a club for disabled swimmers here.”

The Aqua Lions now has 70 regular swimmers on its books ra-nging from four to 80-years-old who meet at St Peters every Sunday from 4-5pm.

For details, contact Brian Crossley on 01282 423619 or 07764 790386.