LUKE Hollingsworth was the star of the show as Amersham Swimming Club hit a 47-year peak at the weekend.

They were competing in the National Arena Swimming League A Cup Final for the first time in their history and Hollingsworth gave them plenty to shout about with a first and second place finish.

Amersham’s very participation at the meet was the highlight and proved to be a fitting finale for coach Malcolm Staight.

Staight helped set up the National Swimming League while he was coaching at Ilford in 1964 and since joining Amersham six years ago has led the club to success after success.

They were in Division One of the South Region then, but under Staight they won promotion to the Premier Division in 2007 and then booked their place in the B Finals in 2011 and 2012.

The B Final comprises the clubs ranked 11th to 20th in the country and they were on course to make it hat-trick of appearances this season.

However, when Peterborough withdrew from the A Final, Amersham, as the next best club, were promoted.

It pitched them into the big time with city clubs like Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and Plymouth, and meant their swimmers lined up in lanes alongside Olympic gold medal winners.

Hollingsworth was not daunted though. He finished second in the 13 and under 100m backstroke before delighting the travelling Amersham fans with victory in the 100m butterfly in a time of 1:03.60.

There were also a number of fourth-place finishers.

Emily Heslop just missed a podium in the 15 and under 100m backstroke, George Marsh matched her in the boy’s equivalent and Luke Spain raced to the same result in the open 100m breaststroke.

Elsewhere, Amy Hollingsworth was fifth in the 11 and under 50m butterfly while George Simmons (13 and under 100m breaststroke), James Brindley (15 and under 100m freestyle) and Lily Pearson (11 and under 50m freestyle) all came sixth.

Meanwhile, Kyle Franzeskou will replace Staight, having coached at Cardiff and Plymouth Leander.

Amersham’s team at the A Cup Final: 11/under: Lily Pearson; Amy Hollingsworth; Magda Rospedzihowska; Ella Patrick; Ceara Barber; George Elliott; James Bell; Ellis Morgan and Max McPhillips (travelling reserve Tim Everett).

13/under: Thanya Jasinska; Millie Patrick; Rosie Whittaker; Sammy Farnfield; Georgina Bradley; Sophie Lawrence; Korrie Ford; Luke Hollingsworth; George Simmons; Zac Bischoff; Jamie Fulcher; Peter Dalzell.

15/under: Sarah Hammond; Mia Poplawska; Emily Heslop; Sophie Bradley; Catalina Aguilar; James Brindley; George Marsh; Ross Calder; Fraser Brydon; Mack Tate; James Mullally Open: Eleanor Dolan; Kat Shaw; Juliet Flamank; Paige Morgan; Holly Williams; Anna Heslop; Dan Barraclough; Luke Spain; Matt Penning-Lambert; Gareth Fowler; Ashley Wilkie; Harry Pendered