Amelia Lush (10) and seven-year-olds, Liette Tindall and Nash Boal, were selected in the team after placing at the recent heats in Tamworth.

Swimmers had to place in the top four at the event staged at Scully Park in February to progress to the big time.

The championships were held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on March 12 and although it can be an overwhelming experience, the local youngsters took it in their stride and had a great day.

Swimming Gunnedah’s “pocket rocket” Nash Boal revelled in the experience stripping huge chunks from his personal best times and finishing a creditable fourth in the 50m butterfly after eclipsing his entry time by 9.11 seconds.

Nash also picked up a finalist ribbon in the 50m freestyle, swimming into eighth place from 34 swimmers.

His personal best time of 43.92 seconds in this event was an improvement of 2.85 seconds.

The pint-sized youngster went on to strip an amazing 8.99 seconds from his best in breaststroke and 5.88 seconds in backstroke.

Liette Tindall was another big improver at the titles with her best performance in the seven years 50m butterfly, where she was rewarded with a finalist ribbon, after improving her entry time by 6.06 seconds for ninth place in a field of 30 swimmers.

Liette also did her best in freestyle for 14th place from 39 competitors and also in breaststroke, finishing a fraction outside her best in backstroke.

Promising young swimmer Amelia Lush was off her pace on the day and was disappointed with her times but is sure to bounce back next season.

The trio featured on a team of 81 swimmers representing the New England-North West, drawn from towns such as Moree, Tamworth, Inverell, Armidale and of course Gunnedah.

The NENW team competed in 250 individual events and eight relays.

NENW brought home four medals in total (one gold, one silver, two bronze) and finished 10^th of 12 teams in the pointscore competition.

The event featured swimmers from all parts of the state as well as the ACT.

The four regions taking in the Sydney metropolitan area battled it out for the top prize.

Metro North East was the leading performer ahead of Metro South East, Metro North West and Metro South West.

Coast and Valley, North Coast, South Eastern, Mountains and Plains, Western and Southern Inland were the other regions in action.